phlegm etymology

Etymology

The word "phlegm" comes from the Greek word "phlegma," meaning "inflammation" or "mucus."

Meaning

Phlegm is a thick, sticky substance produced by the body in response to irritation or infection. It typically consists of mucus, white blood cells, and other immune cells.

Origin

Phlegm is a natural defense mechanism that helps to protect the body from infection. When the body is exposed to an irritant or infection, the immune system produces mucus to trap and remove the invader. Mucus also helps to lubricate and protect the tissues of the respiratory tract.

In traditional medicine, phlegm was believed to be one of the four humors that influenced a person's health. The other three humors were blood, yellow bile, and black bile. It was believed that an imbalance of phlegm could lead to a variety of health problems, including respiratory ailments, digestive problems, and mental disorders.

phlegm relate terms

  • phlegmatic

    1 Etymology Greek φλεγματικός phlegmatikos Root φλέγμα phlegma

  • phlegm

    Etymology The word phlegm comes from the Greek word phlegma meaning inflammation o

  • phlegmy

    Etymology The word phlegmy comes from the Greek word phlegma which means mucus or

  • phlegm

    Etymology The word phlegm comes from the Greek word phlegma meaning inflammation o

  • beluga

    Etymology The word beluga is derived from the Russian word белуха belukha

  • Beltane

    Etymology Irish Bealtaine Scottish Gaelic Bealltainn Welsh Beltain Meaning Brigh

  • black

    Etymology The word black is derived from the Old English word blac which is cognate

  • blancmange

    Etymology French blancmange literally white eating From Old French blanc white and

  • blanch

    Etymology The word blanch comes from the Old French word blanchir which means to w

  • blank

    Etymology Middle English blanc from Old French blanc from Frankish blank from Prot

  • blanket

    Etymology The word blanket derives from the Middle English term blankette which ult

  • blaze

    Etymology The word blaze comes from the Middle English word blase meaning a flame

  • bleach

    Etymology of Bleach The word bleach originates from the Old English term blēcan w

  • bleak

    Etymology Old English blǣc pale dark black Meaning Unrelievedly depress

  • blemish

    Etymology The word blemish derives from the Old French word blemisse which in turn

  • blench

    Etymology The word blench has its origins in the Old English word blanch which also

  • blende

    Etymology of Blende The word blende has roots in German and Swedish German blend

  • blend

    Etymology Middle English blenden from Old English blendan to mix stir Proto Germ

  • blind

    Etymology The word blind comes from the Old English word blind which ultimately der

  • blindfold

    Etymology Blind Middle English From Old English blind meaning deprived of sight

  • blitzkrieg

    Etymology and Meaning Blitzkrieg is a German compound word that consists of Blitz li

  • blond

    Etymology The word blond is derived from the Old French word blond which in turn co

  • blue

    Etymology The word blue originates from the Middle English blewe which in turn is de

  • blush

    Etymology The word blush comes from the Old English word blyscan which means to fla

  • conflagration

    Etymology The word conflagration originates from the Latin word conflagrare which me

  • deflagration

    Etymology From French déflagration from Latin deflagrāre to burn down from de

  • effulgence

    Etymology From Latin effulgentia from effulgens present participle of effulgere to s

  • effulgent

    Etymology The word effulgent comes from the Latin word effulgeo which means to shi

  • flagrant

    Etymology The word flagrant originates from the Latin adjective flagrans which mean

  • flambe

    Etymology and Meaning The word flambé originates from the French verb flamber whic

  • flambeau

    Etymology The word flambeau comes from the Old French word flambel which in turn com

  • flamboyant

    Etymology The word flamboyant is derived from the Old French word flamboier meaning

  • flame

    Etymology The word flame comes from the Old English word fleame which meant a smal

  • flamingo

    Etymology The word flamingo comes from the Portuguese word flamengo which is derive

  • flammable

    Etymology Flammable is derived from the Latin word flammare meaning to set on fire

  • Flavian

    Etymology Flavian derives from the Latin family name Flavius which originated from the L

  • Flavius

    Etymology The name Flavius is derived from the Latin word flavus meaning golden haire

  • fulgent

    Etymology Latin fulgens from the present participle of fulgere to flash Meaning

  • fulminate

    Etymology Latin fulminare meaning to lighten to thunder Fulmen meaning light

  • inflame

    Etymology The word inflame originates from the Latin word inflammare which is a comb

  • inflammable

    Etymology The word inflammable is derived from the Latin word inflammare meaning to

  • phlegm

    Etymology The word phlegm comes from the Greek word phlegma meaning inflammation o

  • phlegmatic

    1 Etymology Greek φλεγματικός phlegmatikos Root φλέγμα phlegma

  • phlogiston

    Etymology The term phlogiston comes from the Greek word phlogistos which means inf

  • phlox

    Etymology Phlox is derived from the Greek word phlox meaning flame Meaning Ph

  • purblind

    Etymology Old English purblind short sighted near sighted Middle English purblind

  • refulgent

    Etymology Refulgent comes from the Latin word refulgere meaning to shine back to

  • riboflavin

    Etymology Riboflavin is a compound word derived from two Latin roots Ribo From ribo

  • languor

    Origin and etymology The word languor comes from the Latin word languēre meaning t

  • lethargy

    Etymology The word lethargy is derived from the Greek word λήθη lēthē meanin

  • retch

    Etymology The word retch is derived from the Middle English verb rechen meaning to

  • humor

    Etymology The word humor derives from the Latin word humor meaning liquid or mois

  • slime

    Etymology The word slime is derived from the Old English word slim which means sli

  • complexion

    Etymology From Late Latin complexio the nominative of complexionis a derivative of co

  • mixed

    Etymology The word mixed is derived from the Latin word miscere which means to mix

  • mucus

    Etymology Latin mucus Ancient Greek myxa μύξα Meaning Mucus is a thick vis

  • apathy

    Etymology From Late Latin apatheia from Greek ἀπάθεια apatheia from ἄπα

  • inertia

    Etymology The word inertia derives from the Latin word inertus which means inactiv