gallstone

[ gawl-stohn ]

noun

1. an abnormal stonelike mass, usually of cholesterol, formed in the gallbladder or bile passages.

gallstone

/ ˈɡɔːlˌstəʊn /

noun

1. pathol a small hard concretion of cholesterol, bile pigments, and lime salts, formed in the gall bladder or its ducts Also calledbilestone

gallstone

/ gôl′stōn′ /

1. A small, hard, abnormal mass composed chiefly of cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments, formed in the gallbladder or in a bile duct. The presence of gallstones can lead to painful obstruction or infection and is sometimes treated with cholecystectomy .

gallstone

1. A hard, pebblelike material deposited in the gallbladder or bile ducts by the process of chemical precipitation . Gallstones can cause considerable pain and can even obstruct the flow of bile from the gallbladder. On some occasions, the entire gallbladder must be removed by surgery.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallstone¹

First recorded in 1750–60; gall ¹ + stone

Example Sentences

In the spring of 2016, Jasmine was hospitalized with gallstones.

From ProPublica

In the fall of 2016, Jasmine developed her first pressure sores during hospitalizations for gallstones.

From ProPublica

In the winter of 2017, Jasmine was hospitalized again with gallstones, and her prognosis wasn’t good.

From ProPublica

Michael Leitzmann, et al. “A Prospective Study of Coffee Consumption and the Risk of Symptomatic Gallstone Disease in Men.”

From The Daily Beast

Such is the pain produced by lead-colic, or by the passage of a gallstone or renal calculus.

From Project Gutenberg

Another journal tells of a new gallstone cure that never fails to cause the stones to be passed even if they are big as walnuts.

From Project Gutenberg

Hysteria will imitate nearly every form of cramp, including even those due to gallstone and kidney calculus.

From Project Gutenberg