Word Study
embolus
CIDE DICTIONARY
embolus, n. [L., fr. Gr. pointed so as to be put or thrust in, fr. to throw, thrust, or put in. See Emblem.].
- Something inserted, as a wedge; the piston or sucker of a pump or syringe. [1913 Webster]
- A plug of some substance lodged in a blood vessel, being brought thither by the blood current. It consists most frequently of a clot of fibrin, a detached shred of a morbid growth, a globule of fat, or a microscopic organism. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
embolus, n. (pl. emboli) an object causing an embolism.
Etymology
L, = piston, f. Gk embolos peg, stopper
ROGET THESAURUS
embolus
Hindrance
N hindrance, prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage, embolus, embolism, infarct, interruption, interception, interclusion, hindrance, impedition, retardment, retardation, embarrassment, oppilation, coarctation, stricture, restriction, restraint, inhibition, blockade, interference, interposition, obtrusion, discouragement, discountenance, impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag, check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil, bar, stile, barrier, turnstile, turnpike, gate, portcullis, beaver dam, trocha, barricade, wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne, bulkhead, block, buffer, stopper, boom, dam, weir, burrock, drawback, objection, stumbling-block, stumbling-stone, lion in the path, snag, snags and sawyers, encumbrance, incumbrance, clog, skid, shoe, spoke, drag, drag chain, drag weight, stay, stop, preventive, prophylactic, load, burden, fardel, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta, dead weight, lumber, pack, nightmare, Ephialtes, incubus, old man of the sea, remora, difficulty, insuperable, obstacle, estoppel, ill wind, head wind, trammel, tether, hold back, counterpoise, damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy, party pooper, party crasher, interloper, trail of a red herring, opponent, hindering, obstructive, obstruent, impeditive, impedient, intercipient, prophylactic, impedimentary, in the way of, unfavorable, onerous, burdensome, cumbrous, cumbersome, obtrusive, hindered, windbound, waterlogged, heavy laden, hard pressed, unassisted &c (assist), single-handed, alone, deserted, occurrent nubes.Closure
N closure, occlusion, blockade, shutting up, obstruction, embolus, contraction, infarction, constipation, obstipation, blind alley, blind corner, keddah, cul-de-sac, caecum, imperforation, imperviousness, impermeability, stopper, closed, shut, operculated, unopened, unpierced, imporous, caecal, closable, imperforate, impervious, impermeable, impenetrable, impassable, unpassable, invious, pathless, wayless, untrodden, untrod, unventilated, air tight, water tight, hermetically sealed, tight, snug.For further exploring for "embolus" in Webster Dictionary Online