wisdom tooth

Meaning

Noun

• One of the four (one upper and one lower on each side) rearmost molars in humans, which typically develop between ages 18-24.

Origin

• From wisdom + tooth, , which is itself a calque of Ancient Greek σωφρονιστήρ ("prudent or self-controlled ones (i.e. teeth)"), because they arrive approximately when one has reached the age of prudence or wisdom. Compare also German Weisheitszahn ("wisdom tooth"), Danish visdomstand ("wisdom tooth"), Swedish visdomstand ("wisdom tooth"), Icelandic vísdómstönn ("wisdom tooth"), Dutch verstandskies ("wisdom tooth"), German Low German Verstandskuus ("wisdom tooth"). Chinese 智齒, Russian зуб мудрости, Hebrew שן בינה and Finnish viisaudenhammas also mean “tooth of wisdom”.