Gallstone

/ˈɡɔːlˌstoʊn/ noun

Definition

A hard, pebble-like object made of cholesterol or bile that forms in the gallbladder and can cause painful blockages.

Etymology

From gall (the gallbladder, from Old English gealla relating to bile) plus stone, referring to the stone-like deposits that form in the bile-storage organ.

Kelly Says

Gallstones can be as small as sand or as large as a golf ball, and some people carry them for years without knowing it—but if one blocks the wrong duct, the pain is so severe that people think they're having a heart attack.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.