an abnormal opening between one hollow organ and another or between a hollow organ and the surface of the skin, caused by ulceration, congenital malformation, etc
2. obsolete
any musical wind instrument; a pipe
Word origin
C14: from Latin: pipe, tube, hollow reed, ulcer
fistula in American English
(ˈfɪstjulə; ˈfɪstʃələ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈfistulas or ˈfistuˌlae (ˈfɪstjuˌli; ˈfɪstʃəˌli)
1. Rare
a pipe or tube
2.
an abnormal passage from an abscess, cavity, or hollow organ to the skin or to another abscess, cavity, or organ