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A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.

d with saltpeter. The fumes from the burning paper are often inhaled as an alleviative by asthmatics.

A person affected with asthma.

Of or pertaining to asthma; as, an asthmatic cough; liable to, or suffering from, asthma; as, an asthmatic patient. -- Asth*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Opposing, or fitted to relieve, asthma. -- n.

Same as Antasthmatic.

Short and rapid breathing; a panting; asthma. Glanvill.

The dried stems and leaves of tarweed (Grindelia), used as a remedy in asthma and bronchitis.

le thrush. It makes a noise like a scissors grinder, to which the name alludes. Grinder's asthma, phthisis, or rot (Med.), a lung disease produced by the mechanical irritation of the particles of steel and stone given off in the operation of grinding.

ted to the effluvium from hay, and to the pollen of certain plants. It is also called hay asthma, hay cold, and rose fever. -- Hay knife, a sharp instrument used in cutting hay out of a stack or mow. -- Hay press, a press for baling loose hay. -- Hay tea, the juice of hay extracted by boiling, used as food for cattl…

The red-bellied terrapin. See Terrapin. Potter's asthma (Med.), emphysema of the lungs; -- so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. -- Potter's clay. See under Clay. -- Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; -- so named from the field…

Affected with shortness of breath; having a quick, difficult respiration, as dyspnoic and asthmatic persons. May.

to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma.

To breathe hard, and with an audible piping or whistling sound, as persons affected with asthma. "Wheezing lungs." Shak.