Early 17th century; earliest use found in Helkiah Crooke (1576–1648), physician and anatomist. After French oreille interne, probably itself after post-classical Latin auris interna.
Definition of internal ear in US English:
internal ear
noun
Anatomy
Inner ear.
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in Helkiah Crooke (1576–1648), physician and anatomist. After French oreille interne, probably itself after post-classical Latin auris interna.