What is "melaena"

Melaena \Me*l[ae]"na\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`las, m., me`laina, f., black.] (Med.) A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of altered blood.

n. (alternative spelling of melena English)

n. abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood (usually from gastrointestinal bleeding) [syn: melena]