The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rongeur \Ron`geur"\, n. [F., fr. ronger to gnaw.] (Surg.) An instrument for removing small rough portions of bone.
Wiktionary
n. (context surgery English) An instrument for removing small rough portions of bone.
Wikipedia
A rongeur is a strongly constructed instrument with a sharp-edged, scoop-shaped tip, used for gouging out bone. Rongeur is a French word that means rodent or 'gnawer'. A rongeur can be used to open a window in bone, often in the skull. It is used in neurosurgery, podiatric surgery, and orthopedic surgery to expose areas for operation.
A rongeur is also used in oral maxillofacial surgery to remove bony fragments or soft tissue. It is also used in hand surgery to cut traumatic amputated bone to allow skin to be closed over the defect.
A rongeur can also be used in cadaver dissection lab to break through ribs when removing the anterior chest wall.
Usage examples of "rongeur".
So we sent Le Rongeur to check with the police, and found that they had no record of a Captain Peter Clarke.