noun
- A small surgical knife with a sharp, narrow blade, used for making incisions in surgery or dissection.
Usage: medical; also spelled 'catling'
Examples
- The surgeon selected a catlin from the instrument tray before beginning the delicate procedure.
- In anatomy class, students learned to handle a catlin with precision and care.
- The catlin's thin blade made it ideal for making clean, controlled cuts during dissection.
- Historical medical texts often reference the catlin as an essential surgical tool.