haemorrhoids

British  

/ ˈhɛməˌrɔɪdz /

plural noun

1. Nontechnical name: piles.  pathol swollen and twisted veins in the region of the anus and lower rectum, often painful and bleeding

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Other Word Forms

• haemorrhoidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of haemorrhoids

C14: from Latin haemorrhoidae (plural), from Greek, from haimorrhoos discharging blood, from haimo- _haemo- + rhein to flow

Example Sentences

Michael had developed stage 4 haemorrhoids - the most severe type - she said.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025

Fraudsters posing as the young student sent a message to her father, saying she had a case of haemorrhoids that she was embarrassed to talk about.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2021

Alongside improved hygiene and stronger taboos also came an explosion in various so-called “modern” diseases, such as haemorrhoids and constipation, which were attributed to seated toilets.

From The Guardian • Nov. 30, 2018

On a shelf is a lurid, plastic, life-size model of a rectum afflicted by every imaginable malady – haemorrhoids, fistulae, ulcerative colitis, faecaliths.

From The Guardian • Mar. 31, 2013

In a flux of haemorrhoids, wear off the pain, and let her drink hot wine with a toasted nutmeg.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle