hem-roid, hem·or·rhoid

(h m -roid ) n.
1. An itching or painful mass of dilated veins in swollen anal tissue.
2. hemorrhoids The pathological condition in which such painful masses occur. Also called piles.

[From Middle English emoroides, hemorrhoids, from Old French emoroides, from Latin
haemorrhoidae, from Greek haimorrhoïdes, pl. of haimorrhoïs, from haimorrhoos,
flowing with blood : haimo-, hemo- + rhein, to flow; see sreu- in Indo-European roots.]