Corkiness

/ˈkɔːrkɪnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being corky; the degree to which something resembles cork in texture, appearance, or other properties.

Etymology

From 'corky' + abstract noun suffix '-ness', a highly productive English suffix for creating abstract nouns. Emerged as medical and textile terminology in the 19th century.

Kelly Says

The word 'corkiness' might sound silly, but it's actually precise—doctors can now describe skin changes in liver disease as showing 'increased corkiness' which tells other physicians exactly what cellular damage they're looking at.

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