a castrated person. See the article Castration.—The word is formed from ευνοῦς, q.d. leui curam habet, "guardian or keeper of the bed."

In Britain, France, &c. eunuchs are never made but upon occasion of some disease, which renders such an operation necessary: but in Italy, they make great numbers of children, from one to three years of age, eunuchs, every year, to supply the operas and theatres of all Europe with fingers; though it is not one in three, that, after having lost his virility, has a good voice for a recompense. In the eastern parts of the world, they make eunuchs in order to be guards or attendants on their women. The efraglio of the eastern emperors are chiefly served and guarded by eunuchs; and yet, from good authority, we learn, that the rich eunuchs in Persia and other countries keep efraglios for their own use. Those who, out of an imprudent zeal to guard themselves from sensual pleasures, made themselves eunuchs, were, by the council of Nice, condemned and excluded from holy orders. There are several severe prohibitions in Germany against the making of eunuchs; and in France an eunuch must not marry, not even with the consent of the woman.