tampon

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtampɒn/

noun

  • 1a plug of soft material inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood.
  • 2 Medicine a plug of material used to stop a wound or block an opening in the body and absorb blood or secretions.

verb (tampons, tamponing, tamponed)

[with object]
  • plug with a tampon.

Origin:

mid 19th century: from French, nasalized variant of tapon 'plug, stopper', ultimately of Germanic origin and related to tap1