découl

Découl is a French term that appears primarily as a shorthand or informal form in medical writing to indicate the discharge or drainage of fluids from a wound, a body cavity, or an opening. It is typically considered an abbreviated or clipped variant of the noun découlement or écoulement, and is not widely used in contemporary standard French. In practice, writers more often use the full terms "découlement" or "écoulement," or else more specific descriptors such as "sécrétion," "drainage," or "exsudat" depending on the context.

Etymology and form: the word is derived from the verb découler, meaning to flow out. The noun form reflects the idea of something that flows away or drains from a site. Because of its brevity, découl is most commonly found in historical medical notes, shorthand clinical records, or informal language, rather than in formal medical prose.

Usage notes: given its rarity and potential ambiguity outside of shorthand contexts, découl should generally be avoided in formal writing in favor of clear terms like découlement, écoulement, or a more precise description of the drainage (e.g., purulent écoulement, serous drainage).

See also: découlement, écoulement, drainage, exsudat, sécrétion.