bolus

Meanings

Noun

• A round mass of something, especially of chewed food in the mouth or alimentary canal.
• A single, large dose of a drug, especially one in that form.

Verb

• To administer (a drug) in bolus dosing, that is, dosing in (one or more) boluses.
• To take a bolus (dose) of insulin at a mealtime in order to control one's blood glucose level in diabetes.

Origin

• From Late Latin bōlus ("clod of earth, lump"), plural bōlī, from Ancient Greek βῶλος ("clod, lump"). bole.