noun
- a profuse discharge of blood, as from a ruptured blood vessel; bleeding.
- the loss of assets, especially in large amounts.
- any widespread or uncontrolled loss or diffusion.
verb (used without object), hem·or·rhaged, hem·or·rhag·ing.
- to bleed profusely.
- to lose assets, especially in large amounts.
verb (used with object), hem·or·rhaged, hem·or·rhag·ing.
- to lose (assets): a company that was hemorrhaging money.
by 1882, from hemorrhage (n.). Related: Hemorrhaged; hemorrhaging.
Slang in Reports: B.I.D. for “Brought in Dead” and “Dotty” are, [Mr. Sidney Holland of London Hospital] considers, permissible expressions, but he draws the line at “fitting” and “hæmorrhaging.” Only such terms, he says, should be used as outside doctors will understand. We would say that on a point of such odiously bad taste he might have been much more severe. [Lavinia L. Dock, “The American Journal of Nursing,” 1906]
c.1400, emorosogie (modern form by 17c.), from Latin haemorrhagia, from Greek haimorrhagia, from haimorrhages “bleeding violently,” from haima “blood” (see -emia) + rhage “a breaking,” from rhegnynai “to break, burst.” Related: Hemorrhagic.
n.
- An escape of blood from the blood vessels, especially when excessive.hemorrhea
- Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding, often caused by trauma, surgical or obstetrical complications, or the advanced stages of certain illnesses, such as cirrhosis and peptic ulcer disease.