From Middle English "clevage," borrowed from Old French "clevage" (12th century), from Medieval Latin "clivagium" (11th century).
Meaning and Origin:
"Cleavage" has several interrelated meanings:
1. Geology:
Refers to the natural splitting or parting of a rock along any surface other than the bedding plane.
Originates from the Latin word "clivus," meaning "slope" or "descent." The term describes the separation of rocks along inclined planes or joints.
2. Anatomy:
Refers to the division of an embryo into two or more cells during early development.
Originates from the French verb "cliver," meaning "to split" or "to divide."
3. Biology:
Refers to the division of a cell into two or more daughter cells through the process of mitosis or meiosis.
Derived from the anatomical meaning, as the process of cell division resembles the splitting of an embryo.
4. Physiology:
Refers to the separation of the breasts into two distinct halves, a characteristic of the female anatomy.
Originates from the anatomical meaning, as the breasts are essentially folds or divisions of the skin. In this context, "cleavage" often implies a varying degree of separation or fullness of the breasts.
5. Mineralogy:
Refers to the ability of a mineral to split easily along certain planes, known as cleavage planes.
Originates from the geological meaning, as it describes the tendency of minerals to break along predetermined lines.
