phlegm
UK[flɛm]US[flɛm]
n
The thick, sticky substance produced in the nose and throat, especially when you have a cold.
n
Calmness and patience in a difficult or annoying situation; a lack of excitement or emotion.
Etymology
The word 'phlegm' originates from the Old French 'fleume', which itself came from the Late Latin 'phlegma', meaning 'clammy moisture'. This Latin term was a direct borrowing from the Greek 'phlegma', meaning 'inflammation, heat', derived from the verb 'phlegein', 'to burn'. In ancient and medieval physiology, 'phlegm' was considered one of the four bodily humors, believed to be cold and moist and responsible for a calm, unemotional temperament. This historical medical theory provides the semantic bridge from the literal meaning of mucus to the modern abstract sense of calmness and impassivity.
Analysis
The entire word 'phlegm' is a simplex morpheme borrowed from Latin and Greek. It is not productively segmented in modern English spelling.
Examples
A persistent cough can be a sign of too much phlegm in the lungs.
He accepted the criticism with remarkable phlegm, showing no sign of anger.
The doctor advised drinking plenty of fluids to help loosen the phlegm.