Definition of distended

The word "distended" derives from the Latin verb "distendere," which means "to stretch out" or "to expand." In medieval Latin, "distended" was used to describe the swollen belly of someone suffering from severe illness, particularly diseases like intestinal obstruction, tumors, or edema. “Distendere” was adopted into Old French around the 13th century, and the French term "distendre" entered English in the Middle English period. Here, it was used to signify the swollen stomachs of pregnant women, as well as various illnesses that caused abdominal distention, like dropsy and the bubonic plague. The word's original meaning has remained largely unchanged throughout the centuries, as it continues to be used today to describe objects or body parts that have expanded beyond their normal size or shape, such as a bloated stomach, a balloon filled with too much air, or a tapestry stretched too far on its frame.