Meaning

noun an insertion into a calendar

noun occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus (a loose clot or air bubble or other particle)

originThe term was coined in 1848 by Rudolf Virchow. From Old French embolisme (“intercalation of days in a calendar to correct errors”), from Late Latin embolismus, from Ancient Greek ἐμβολισμός (embolismós, “intercalary”), from ἐμβάλλω (embállō, “to insert, throw in”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0