Are the words proctor and proctologist connected? No. The word proctor, as in a university proctor who supervises or monitors students, derives from Latin procurator, from words meaning to “care for” or “advocate for,” from the same family of words as proxy and procure.
The source of the word proctologist is the Greek word proktos, meaning “anus.” (In Latin, the word anus, means “ring,” the source of Spanish anillo, “ring,” and via French, the English word annular, meaning “ring-shaped,” as in an annular eclipse.) Medical professionals sometimes jokingly refer to a proctologist as a rear admiral or a comprehensive physician. (Listen to this clip to find out why.) If someone causes proctalgia, it’s because they pain us in the anus.This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Are “Proctor” and “Proctologist” Related?”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is John Burrill.
Hi, John. Where are you calling from?
I’m calling from Hapog, New York.
What’s on your mind?
Well, I’m interested in the word proctor. I work as a proctor, and I prefer to call myself an exam administrator. I don’t like the word proctor. I don’t know where it comes from. Everybody seems to know what it means, but it’s a peculiar word. And then, you know, you throw in the proctologist who, what does he have to do with being a proctor? I just thought you guys could shed some light on it.
All right. Wait a second here. So you went straight from proctor to proctologist.
Well, I was thinking of the words that might have the same root, that the only two words I know is proctor and proctologist. So there you have it.
Well, John, you’ll be relieved to know that proctor and proctologist have nothing to do with each other.
Well, no pun intended, but yes, I am relieved.
You’re relieved.
Well, I’m glad to hear that. Yeah, we should talk about those two words a little bit. The word proctor itself is a shortened form of an older English word, procurator, which in the 1300s meant a steward or a manager of a household or a provider. And it came to us through Old French. And by the 15th century, the word proctor could mean the business manager of a church or a college. And by the late 17th century, it was being used in universities in Europe to mean somebody who officiates the kind of thing you’re talking about. And it ultimately goes back to a Latin word procurator, which means a manager or an overseer. It’s somebody who cares for or advocates for something. And it’s related to words like procure, meaning to provide, or proxy, somebody who stands in for somebody else.
And when you’re talking about a proctologist, well, that goes back to a Greek word, proktos, which means anus. In more prudish translations of Aristophanes, it’ll be translated as arse, but it’s really anus, which is an interesting word itself. That’s the Latin word for ring. And if you have an annular eclipse, what you’re talking about is the sun’s light forming a ring around the moon. And it also shows up in the Spanish word for ring, anillo. So the good news is that your job has nothing to do with butts.
That’s wonderful news. But with proctologists, you know, there are all these joking terms within the medical field that I feel obligated to share here.
Obligated, okay.
Okay, I’d love to hear. Now, this is among the medical professionals themselves. So proctologists are jokingly referred to as rear admirals by their medical colleagues.
Yeah, John, maybe you could call yourself that.
It’s because they admire all. And they’re also called comprehensive physicians because they see their patients as a whole.
They certainly do. If someone gives you proctalgia, it’s a fancy way of saying you pain us in the anus.
Terrific. That’s great. Well, I really appreciate it.
Well, there you go, John. I hope we cleared this up for you.
You certainly did. And I really appreciate you having me on. And keep up the great work. Love to listen.
All right. Take care now.
Bye, John.
Bye, John.
Thank you.
Bye.
Well, whether or not you’re a member of the Rear Admiralty, you can give us a call, 877-929-9673, and talk to us about the language similarities that befuddle and amaze you. Or send us an email, words@waywordradio.org.
