• (n.) An instrument for cutting into the fetal head, to facilitate delivery.
Instrument formerly used for cutting into the foetal head to permit its compression in cases of dystocia. ... Origin: cephalo-+ G. Tome, a cutting ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
Ceph'a·lo·tome noun [ Cephalo- + Greek ... to cut.] (Medicine) An instrument for cutting into the fetal head, to facilitate delivery. 
Type: Term Pronunciation: sef′ă-lō-tōm Definitions: 1. Instrument formerly used for cutting into the fetal head to permit its compression in cases of dystocia.