ˈligəmənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ligamentum ligament of the body, from Latin, band, tie, from ligare to bind, tie + -mentum -ment — more at ligature
1.
a. : a tough band of tissue that serves to connect the articular extremities of bones or to support or retain an organ in place and is usually composed of coarse bundles of dense white fibrous tissue parallel or closely interlaced, pliant, and flexible, but inextensile
b. : any of various folds or bands of pleura, peritoneum, or mesentery connecting parts or organs
c. : a chitinous elastic band in bivalve mollusks connecting the valves along a line adjacent to the umbones and serving to open the valves — see resilium
2. : something that ties or unites one thing or part to another
the law of nations, the great ligament of mankind — Edmund Burke