‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. me`las, me`lanos, black + a"i^ma blood.] (Med.) A morbid condition in which the blood contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood corpuscles. [1913 Webster]
prop. a. [ Gr. me`las, me`lanos, black + &unr_; island. Melanesia was so called from the dark complexion of the natives. ] Of or pertaining to Melanesia. [ 1913 Webster ]