Phlegma

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A thick, heavy mucus produced in the respiratory passages often associated with congestion or illness; a calm and unemotional state of mind characterized by steadiness and lack of excitement or passion; a classical medical term referring to one of the four bodily humors believed to influence temperament and health
2. A viscous secretion from the respiratory system appearing during sickness; a temperament marked by calmness and an absence of emotional disturbance; in humoral theory, one of the four fluids thought to determine personality and health conditions
3. A dense mucus typically expelled during respiratory disorders; an even-tempered disposition showing little emotional response; historically, a bodily fluid considered in ancient medicine to affect human mood and bodily balance

Etymology: The most surprising thing about this word is that its original meaning was fire. The Greek "phlégma" came from "phlégein," meaning "to burn," and its earliest senses covered flame and inflammation. The Greeks linked the word to the clammy substance in the body too, and the link likely came from the burning sensation people felt when coughing up phlegm. It reached Latin as "phlegma," then passed into Middle English as "flewme" and "fleume" through Old French, where the spelling "flemme" appeared. The later spelling was altered to look more like its Latin and Greek roots, which is why the "ph" and the "g" look classical today. The pronunciation has shifted too. The regular development would have given a form close to "fleem," but speakers adopted "flem" instead, a pronunciation whose origin is uncertain. It was recorded by at least the late 1700s and was probably in use earlier. Its link to "phlegmatic," the adjective for a calm, unemotional temperament, is possible, since that word came from the same humor theory that gave "phlegm" its personality sense.

Synonyms: phlegm, mucus, sputum