Embolism
/ˈɛm.bəˌlɪ.zəm/noun
A blockage of a blood vessel by a clot or other material carried in the bloodstream.
Did you know?Embolism comes from Greek embolos, meaning a wedge or plug, from emballein, literally “to throw in,” so the word’s oldest image is something forcibly inserted into a passage.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
emballein
“to throw in, insert”
Ancient Greek
Greek
embolos
“a wedge, plug, or stopper”
Late Latin
Latin
embolismus
“an insertion or intercalary addition, especially of a day or month”
16th Century
English
embolism
“an insertion; later, in medicine, a blocking plug in a blood vessel”
Modern English
English
embolism
“a blockage of a blood vessel by a traveling clot or other material”