melena

[ muh-lee-nuh ]

noun

, Medicine/Medical.

1. the discharge of black, tarry, bloody stools, usually resulting from a hemorrhage in the alimentary tract.

Word History and Origins

Origin of melena¹

< New Latin < Greek mélaina, feminine of mélās black

Example Sentences

"This is referred to as melena, and generally means that you are bleeding from somewhat in the upper GI tract."

From Salon

Instead, people report maroon or black, tarry stools, called melena.

From US News