Late 19th century; earliest use found in Von Ziemssen's Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine. From classical Latin palpāt-, past participial stem of palpārepalp + -ory, in early use after German palpatorisch.
Definition of palpatory in US English:
palpatory
adjectiveˈpalpət(ə)ri
Medicine
Of, relating to, or involving palpation.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Von Ziemssen's Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine. From classical Latin palpāt-, past participial stem of palpāre palp + -ory, in early use after German palpatorisch.