Discoloration of the skin caused by bleeding underneath, such as a bruise.
From Greek 'ekkhymosis', from 'ekkchyein' meaning 'to pour out' (ek- 'out' + chyein 'to pour'). The medical term was adopted in the 16th century to describe the extravasation of blood into tissues.
This Greek-derived medical term reveals how ancient physicians understood what we now know as simple bruises—they literally described it as blood 'poured out' under the skin, which is exactly what happens when tiny blood vessels rupture!
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