hemorrhoid

[hem-uh-roid, hem-roid]

noun

Usually hemorrhoids. Pathology. an abnormally enlarged vein mainly due to a persistent increase in venous pressure, occurring inside the anal sphincter of the rectum and beneath the mucous membrane (internal hemorrhoid) or outside the anal sphincter and beneath the surface of the anal skin (external hemorrhoid).

Origin of hemorrhoid

1350–1400; Middle English emoroides (plural) < Latin haemorrhoid(a) < Greek haimorroḯda (adj.) discharging blood

Also called piles.

Related formshem·or·rhoi·dal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hemorrhoids

Contemporary Examples of hemorrhoids

“I invented everything—amnesia, pain, hemorrhoids,” he told La Stampa.
Proud to Be a Coal Miner Fraudster
Barbie Latza Nadeau
October 22, 2014

Historical Examples of hemorrhoids

Foureau made complaints that the pills of aloes gave him hemorrhoids.
Bouvard and Pcuchet
Gustave Flaubert
He had just had a visit from Foureau, who was exasperated about his hemorrhoids.
Bouvard and Pcuchet
Gustave Flaubert
One of these growths sometimes unpleasantly complicates a case of hemorrhoids.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
The bowel should be searched for polypi or hemorrhoids, and the prolapse may be cured by the removal of the irritating cause.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
Usually no serious symptoms are to be expected after operations for hemorrhoids, but to this general rule there are exceptions.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various

Word Origin and History for hemorrhoids

plural of hemorrhoid; late 14c., emeroudis, from Old French emorroides (13c.), from Latin hæmorrhoidae, from Greek haimorrhoides (phlebes) "(veins) liable to discharge blood," plural of haimorrhois, from haima "blood" (see -emia) + rhoos "a stream, a flowing," from rhein "to flow" (see rheum). Related: Hemmorhoidal.

hemorrhoids in Medicine

hemorrhoid

[hĕm′ə-roid′]

An itching or painful mass of dilated veins in swollen anal tissue.
hemorrhoids The pathological condition in which such painful masses occur.piles