I. kəˈräd.ə̇d, -ätə̇d adjective
Etymology: French or Greek; French carotide, from Greek karōtides carotid arteries, from karos heavy sleep, back-formation from karoun to stupefy; from the belief that pressure on these arteries causes stupor; akin to Greek kara head — more at cerebral
: belonging to or situated near a carotid artery
II. noun
or carotid artery
( -s )
: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head, the left in man arising from the arch of the aorta, the right by bifurcation of the innominate artery, each passing along the corresponding anterolateral aspect of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head