widow–maker
playwidow maker
or less commonlywidowmaker
Definition of widow–maker
: something having the potential to cause sudden loss of life “Our biggest worry is the mines,” says Sgt. Darrell McCoy. The Third Platoon has been well trained to handle those widow-makers. — David H. Hackworth: such asa : a loose limb hanging in or falling from a tree Broken branches that are hung up high in the canopy are called widow makers, for good reason. — Jack Ewingb : a blockage in a branch of the left coronary artery that commonly causes a fatal heart attack; also : the branch of the left coronary artery susceptible to fatal blockage One of my arteries—one known as “the widowmaker”—was almost completely blocked. — Rob Mikulak
From the M-W Editors
First Known Use of widow–maker
1843
Medical Dictionary
widow–maker
playwidow maker
alsowidowmaker
Medical Definition of widow–maker
: a blockage in a branch of the left coronary artery that commonly causes a fatal heart attack As the dye fills the coronary arteries surrounding and feeding the heart muscle, they can often be seen with remarkable clarity. So can the small constrictions inside the vessels—“widow-makers,” cardiologists call them …—H. Garrett DeYoung, High Technology, March 1983; also : the branch of the left coronary artery susceptible to fatal blockage One of my arteries—one known as “the widowmaker”—was almost completely blocked.—Rob Mikulak, The Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen-Times, 6 Feb. 2011
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