What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Originally: examination of the abdomen by visual inspection or by other standard methods of physical examination (palpation, percussion, etc.) (now disused). In later use: endoscopic examination of the abdominal cavity.
Early 19th century. From abdomino- + -scopy, after French abdominoscopie.