fistula
2 synonyms for fistula, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An unusual channel connecting two body parts, such as organs or blood vessels, that are not normally joined.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
An unusual channel connecting two body parts, such as organs or blood vessels, that are not normally joined.
“An intestinal fistula is an unwanted pathway from intestines to other organs (e.g., the bladder).”
2. noun
A tube once used to drink the Eucharistic wine from the chalice during certain church ceremonies, such as papal Mass.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin fistula ("pipe, ulcer, catheter"); a doublet of fester.
Full origin of fistula →