/ ˌepɪˈdjʊərəl; NAmE ; NAmE usually -ˈdʊr-/ noun
( medical ) an anaesthetic that is put into the lower part of the back so that no pain is felt below the waist :
Some mothers choose to have an epidural when giving birth.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: from epi- upon + dura the outermost membrane around the brain and spinal cord + -al .