plural foramina, 1670s, from Latin foramen "hole, opening, aperture, orifice," from forare "to pierce" (from PIE root *bhorh- "hole").
Entries linking to foramen
*bhorh-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "hole," with verbal form *bherh- "to pierce, strike."
It forms all or part of: bore (v.1) "to drill through, perforate;" Boris; burin; foramen; Foraminifera; foraminous; interfere; interference; perforate; perforation.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek pharao "I plow;" Latin ferire "to knock, strike," forare "to bore, pierce;" Lithuanian barti "to scold, accuse, forbid;" Old Church Slavonic barjo "to strike, fight," brati "to fight," Russian borot "to overpower;" Albanian brime "hole;" Old English borian "to bore through, perforate," Old Norse berja "to beat, hit," Old High German berjan "to hit, pound, knead."