/lith"euh trip'teuhr/ , n.
a device used for fragmenting kidney stones with ultrasound waves.
[ 1815-25; resp., with -ER 1 , of litho ( n ) triptor instrument for crushing kidney stones, pseudo- L deriv. (cf. CAPTOR, RAPTOR) of litho ( n ) triptic, ult. based on the Gk phrase ( phármaka tôn en nephroîs ) líthon thryptiká (drugs) breaking up stones (in the kidneys); trip- by assoc. with Gk tríbein to rub, knead, pound (v. adj. triptós ) ]