Embolus

//ˈɛmbələs// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An obstruction causing an embolism: a blood clot, air bubble or other matter carried by the bloodstream and causing a blockage or occlusion of a blood vessel.
  2. 2
    an abnormal particle (e.g. an air bubble or part of a clot) circulating in the blood wordnet
  3. 3
    The structure on the end of the palp of male arachnids which contains the opening to the ejaculatory duct.

    "Those spiders with a simple bulb insert most of this; those with a complex palp insert only the embolus, which in some species is very long […]"

Etymology

The term was coined in 1848 by Rudolf Virchow From Latin embolus (“piston”), from Ancient Greek ἔμβολος (émbolos, “peg, stopper”).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: embolus