What is "cranioclast"

Cranioclast \Cra"ni*o*clast\ (-kl?st), n. (Med.) An instrument for crushing the head of a fetus, to facilitate delivery in difficult eases.

n. (context medicine English) An instrument for crushing the head of a foetus, to facilitate delivery in difficult cases.

A cranioclast (from Greek κρανίον kranion "head, scull" and -κλάστης -klastes "breaker") is surgical instrument akin to a strong forceps. It was once used to crush and then extract the skull of a fetus so as to facilitate delivery in cases of obstructed labour.