1. Kod starih hemičara: vodnjikavi ostatak destilacije neke alkoholne tečnosti;
2. danas: alkoholom siromašni sirovi špiritus;
3. kod starih medicinara: tobožnja sluzasta krv kao osnova flegmatičnog temperamenta; otuda: prirodna neosetljivost i tromost, hladnokrvnost, ravnodušnost.
Množina: phlegms
ETYM French phlegme, flegme, Latin phlegma, from Greek phlegon a flame, inflammation, phlegm, a morbid, clammy humor in the body. Related to Phlox, Flagrant, Flame, Bleak, and Fluminate.
Expectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishness; SYN. sputum.
Synonym for sputum.