petechia

[pi-tee-kee-uh, -tek-ee-uh]

noun

Pathology.

plural

petechiae 

1. a minute, round, nonraised hemorrhage in the skin or in a mucous or serous membrane.

petechia

/ pɪˈtiːkɪə /

noun

1. a minute discoloured spot on the surface of the skin or mucous membrane, caused by an underlying ruptured blood vessel

Other Word Forms

• petechial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of petechia¹

1575–85; < New Latin < Italian petecchia (in plural) rash, spots on skin < Vulgar Latin *( im ) petīcula, equivalent to Latin impetīc-, stem of impetīx, variant of impetīgō impetigo + -ula -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of petechia¹

C18: via New Latin from Italian petecchia freckle, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The affidavit notes that Ramirez saw “markings” on the alleged victim’s neck and petechiae — tiny spots — “in the white part of her eyes.”

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But Strack said detectives commonly failed to document physical signs that the crime occurred, such as petechiae or drooping eyelids, which might support the felony charge.

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The specks, he learned, were called petechiae, from a 17th-century Italian word for freckles.

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In the autopsy report, Denton identified light blanching on the tip of Jayden's nose and tiny dots on his eyelids, cheeks and elsewhere — burst blood vessels called petechiae.

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But in August 2020, before her freshman year, Lam noticed spots popping up on her skin, called petechiae.

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