phlegm
One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.
Other meanings
Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.
A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.
Related words
- dephlegm
- flob
- leucophlegmacy
- phlegmless
- phlegm-cutter
- phlegmish
- phlegmy
Word history
From Ancient Greek "φλέγμα" (flame; inflammation; clammy humor in the body).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “phlegm” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.