lach·ry·mal / ˈlakrəməl/ (also lac·ri·mal or lac·ry·mal) • adj. 1. formal or poetic/literary connected with weeping or tears.2. (usu. lacrimal) Physiol. & Anat. concerned with the secretion of tears: lacrimal cells.• n. 1. (usu. lacrimal or lacrimal bone) Anat. a small bone forming part of the eye socket.2. short for lachrymal vase.

lachrymal pert. to tears. XVI. —medL. lachrymālis, lacrimālis. f. lacrima, earlier lacruma tear, rel. to Gr. dákru; see -AL1.
So lachrymatory tear-vase. XVII. lachrymose tearful. XVII. — L.

lachrymal A small bone near the centre of the face, situated just within or just outside the orbit, and often perforated to accommodate the lachrymal (tear) duct.