Lungfuls

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large quantity of air inhaled or exhaled at once from the lungs
2. a significant breath taken in during the process of respiration
3. the volume of air that fills the lungs fully in a single intake

Etymology: "Lungfuls" is the plural of "lungful," a noun meaning the amount of air that fills the lungs in a single breath. It is formed from "lung" and the suffix "-ful," which is used to name the quantity a container or body part holds, as in "spoonful" or "handful." The "-ful" suffix comes from the Old English word "full," so the pattern of adding it to a noun to express an amount is very old in English. "Lung" itself traces back to Old English "lungen," related to the idea of lightness, since the lungs are light organs that float in water. Combining the two gives a compact way to describe a breath as a measured quantity.

Synonyms: breaths, inhalations