First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1trepan
transitive verb tre·pan \tri-ˈpan\
tre·pannedtre·pan·ning
Definition of TREPAN
1
: to use a trephine on (the skull)
2
: to remove a disk or cylindrical core (as from metal for testing)
— trep·a·na·tion \ˌtre-pə-ˈnā-shən\ noun
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of TREPAN
Middle English, from trepane trephine
Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms
Rhymes with TREPAN
adman, Afghan, aidman, ape-man, Bataan, bedpan, best man, Bhutan, birdman, boardman, boss man, brainpan, brogan, caftan, caiman, cancan, capstan, captan, caveman, chessman, claypan, clubman, Cohan, cooncan, corban, cowman, Cruzan, C-Span, cyan, deadman, deadpan, deskman, dishpan, divan, doorman, dustpan, fan-tan, Fezzan, fibranne, flight plan, flyman, FORTRAN, freedman, freeman, frogman, gagman, game plan, glucan, G-man, Greenspan, hardpan, headman, he-man, iceman, inspan, Iran, japan, Japan, jazzman, Kazan, kneepan, Koran, Kurgan, leadman, liege man, life span, liftman, loran, madman, main man, Malan, Mandan, man's man, mailman, merman, Milan, milkman, newsman, oilcan, oilman, oil pan, old man, one-man, pavane, pecan, plowman, point man, postman, Poznan, preman, pressman, propman, Queen Anne, ragman, rattan, reedman, reman, rodman, routeman, Saipan, salt pan, sampan, sandman, saucepan, schoolman, sea fan, sedan, sideman, snowman, soundman, soutane, spaceman, Spokane, spray can, stewpan, stickman, stockman, straight man, straw man, strongman, stuntman, Sudan, suntan, T-man, TACAN, taipan, test ban, tin can, tisane, toucan, trainman, trashman, triptan, Tristan, tube pan, unman, vegan, Walkman, weight man, wingspan, wise man, yardman, yes-man
2trepan
noun tre·pan \ˈtrē-ˌpan, tri-ˈpan\
Definition of TREPAN
: a heavy tool used in boring mine shafts
Origin of TREPAN
Middle English trepane trephine, Anglo-French trepan, from Medieval Latin trepanum, from Greek trypanon auger, from trypan to bore
First Known Use: circa 1877
3trepan
noun tre·pan \tri-ˈpan\
Definition of TREPAN
1
archaic : trickster
2
archaic : a deceptive device : snare
Origin of TREPAN
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1641
4trepan
transitive verb tre·pan \tri-ˈpan\
tre·pannedtre·pan·ning
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up trepan? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).