About
The character 瘿, corresponding to the traditional form 癭, is a phono-semantic compound. The semantic radical 疒 classifies it within the domain of diseases, while 婴 provides the phonetic component. In a medical context, it specifically refers to a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck, or other similar tumors and swellings on the body. The meaning also extends to botany, where it describes a gall or abnormal growth on tree trunks or plant branches, often caused by insects or disease. Both uses fundamentally revolve around the concept of an abnormal swelling or pathological growth.
Etymology Hide
