her·nia \ˈhərnēə, ˈhə̄n-, ˈhəin-, -nyə\noun (pluralherni·as \-nēəz, -nyəz\ ; orherni·ae \-nēˌē\) Etymology: Latin — more at yarn : a protrusion especially of one of the abdominal viscera through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity in which it is normally enclosed — called also rupture • her·nial\-nēəl, -nyəl\adjective