Obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus.
An embolus.
[Middle English embolisme, insertion of one or more days in a calendar, from Late Latin embolismus, from Greek embolismos, from emballein, to insert; see emblem.] em'bo·lis'mic adj.
1387, "intercalation of days into a calendar," from O.Fr. embolisme, from L.L. embolismus "insertion of days in a calendar to correct errors," from Gk. embolimos, embolme "insertion," or embolos "a plug, wedge." Medical sense of "obstruction of a blood vessel" is first recorded in Eng. 1855.