an abnormal coarse crackling sound heard on auscultation of the chest, usually caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs
Word origin
C19: from French râle, from râler to breathe with a rattling sound; compare rail3
râle in American English
(rɑl) or rale (rɑl)
noun
Medicine
an abnormal sound, as rattling or bubbling, accompanying the normal sound of breathing, and usually indicating a diseased condition of the lungs or bronchi