[Usually pl.; orig. teeth of wisdom, rendering mod.L. dentes sapientiæ, = Arab. aḍrāsu ’lḥikmi (f. ḍirs tooth, ḥikm wisdom), after Gr. σωφρονιστῆρες (Hippocrates): so called as not appearing till the attainment of years of discretion.] The hindmost molar tooth on each side of both upper and lower jaws in man, usually ‘cut’ about the age of twenty. Often in phr. to cut one’s wisdom teeth, to attain to wisdom or discretion.
[1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anal. Man., IV. xiii. 349. The two last are termed Dentes Sapientiæ, the Teeth of Wisedom.
1771. J. S., trans. Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (ed. 4), Dict. Cc 8 b. Sophronesteres, the … Teeth of Wisdom.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. x. ¶ 32. The gamester, finding that I had cut my teeth of wisdom sooner than suited his purpose.]
1848. Quain’s Elem. Anat. (ed. 5), II. 971. The last molar in each range, owing to its late appearance through the gums, is called the wisdom-tooth.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s L., xxi. He’s noane cut his wisdom-teeth yet.
1868. Whyte-Melville, White Rose, III. 205. It seems they’re all born with their wisdom-teeth cut and their whiskers growed.
1872. L. P. Meredith, Teeth (1878). 49. The wisdom teeth occasionally erupt as late as the fortieth or fiftieth year.
