Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1866, from Greek klitorid- (see clitoris) + -ectomy. Originally in reference to a proposed cure for hysteria.
Wiktionary
n. (label en surgery) the surgical procedure to remove all or part of the clitoris; female circumcision
WordNet
n. excision of the clitoris [syn: female circumcision]
Wikipedia
Clitoridectomy or clitorectomy is the surgical removal, reduction, or partial removal of the clitoris. It is rarely used as a therapeutic medical procedure, such as when cancer has developed in or spread to the clitoris. It is often performed on intersex newborns. Commonly, non-medical removal of the clitoris is performed during female genital mutilation (FGM).
Usage examples of "clitoridectomy".
The female hold on male sexual pleasure, on life itself—these were realities for patriarchs as much as anyone, despite all their repression, their fear of the female which had been expressed in so many ways, purdah, clitoridectomy, foot binding and so on—ugly stuff indeed, a desperate ruthless last-ditch defense, successful for a time, certainly—but now blown away without a trace.