vital statistics (n.)

1837, with reference to birth, marriage, death, etc.; meaning "a woman's bust, waist, and hip measurements" is from 1952. See vital.

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vital (adj.)

late 14c., "of or manifesting life," from Latin vitalis "of or belonging to life," from vita "life," related to vivere "to live," from PIE root *gwei- "to live." The sense of "necessary or important" is from 1610s, via the notion of "essential to life" (late 15c.). Vital capacity recorded from 1852. Related: Vitally.

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updated on December 02, 2012

Definitions of vital statistics from WordNet

vital statistics (n.)

data relating to births and deaths and health and diseases and marriages;

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near vital statistics

visualization

visualize

visually

vita

vital

vital statistics

vitality

vitalize

vitals

vitamin

vitiate