TON'SIL, noun [Latin tonsilloe. This word seems to be formed from tonsus, tondeo, to clip.] In anatomy, a glandular body at the passage from the mouth to the pharynx. The tonsils are called also from their shape, amygdaloe, and in popular language, almonds. The tonsils have several excretory ducts opening into the mouth. TON'SIL, adjective That may be clipped.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI