melena

me·le·na

noun

Definition of MELENA

: the passage of dark tarry stools containing decomposing blood that is usually an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the alimentary canal and especially the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum—compare hematochezia

—me·le·nic \mə-ˈlē-nik\ adjective

Variants of MELENA

me·le·na or chiefly British me·lae·na \mə-ˈlē-nə\