English

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Etymology

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From the shape in profile of such a wound, somewhat resembling that of a building's gutter.

Noun

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gutter wound (plural gutter wounds)

  1. (pathology) A traumatic wound oriented tangentially to the surface (of the skin or an internal organ), which creates a groove or furrow without passing beneath the surface.

Usage notes

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Typically reserved for wounds created by high-energy projectiles, such as bullets or shell or bomb fragments.