surgical souvenir
n.— «It turns out the collecting and, even, gifting of so-called “surgical souvenirs”—from the staples that seal a wound after surgery to gallstones to surgical screws and pins—isn’t exactly uncommon, or undercover.» —“‘For me? Gosh, honey, you shouldn’t have…’” by Stephanie Earls in Albany, New York Chicago Tribune Apr. 1, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Brian from Lafayette, Indiana, wonders why chicken is abbreviated CHX in the restaurant industry. Using X as a substitute or shortener has a long history. Medieval scribes sometimes drew a line through the final stroke of an abbreviated word. This...
Nick in Palm Springs, California, wonders about the phrase Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. Springing up the 1970s, the saying been there, done that is sometimes followed by any of several variants, including got the T-shirt; worn the T...