a long slender semiflexible cylindrical instrument for inserting into body passages, such as the rectum or urethra, to dilate structures, introduce medication, etc
Word origin
C18: from French, originally a wax candle from Bougie (Bujiya), Algeria
bougie in American English
(ˈbuˌdʒi; buˌʒi)
noun
1.
a wax candle
2. Medicine
a slender instrument introduced into a body canal, esp. the urethra or rectum, as for dilating it
Word origin
Fr, wax candle, after Bougie, Algerian seaport (< ML Bugia < Ar Buǧâya) whence wax candles were imported