/fleuh bot"euh mee/ , n. , pl. phlebotomies . Med.
the act or practice of opening a vein for letting blood as a therapeutic measure; venesection; bleeding.
[ 1350-1400; earlier flebotomye, phlebothomy ( flebotomie ) phlebotomia, LL phlebotomía (see PHLEBO-, -TOMY); r. ME fleobotomie fleobotomia, var. of PHLEBOTOMIA ]