obstruction

[ Lat.obstructio, from obstruc tus, pa. par. of obstruo to build up against; Fr. obstruction; Sp. obstrucion; Ital. ostruzione.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. The act of obstructing, blocking up, or closing against pa age, as a road, river, . 2. The act or practice of hindering, retarding, or impeding the progre of anything; as, the obstruc tion of busine ; spec if., in parliamentary language, the taking advantage of forms or regulations, legitimate in themselves when properly speaking against time, motions for adjournment, ., to block or to hinder the transaction of busine . 3. That which obstructs; an obstacle, an impediment; anything which stops or blocks a way or pa age. 4. That which impedes or checks progre ; a hindrance, a check, an obstacle. "There is no obstruction in this."- Shakesp.: Twelfth Night, ii. 5. *5. A state of stagnation of the vital functions. death. "To lie in cold obstruction and to rot." Shakesp.: Measure for Measure , iii. 1. II. Pathol.: There may be aortic, mitral, and valvular obstruction, obstruction of the biliary pa age of the bowels and of the portal vein. ob-strŭc-tion-işm, 8. [Eng. obstruction; -ism.] The act or habit of obstructing; obstruction.