What is the meaning of Phlegm?

One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.

Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.

A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.

Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference.

Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “phlegm”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

phlegm”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

1 2 Dobson, E. J. (1957) English pronunciation 1500-1700, second edition, volume II: Phonology, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1968, →OCLC, § 8, page 475.

Hall, Joseph Sargent (1942 March 2) “1. The Vowel Sounds of Stressed Syllables”, in The Phonetics of Great Smoky Mountain Speech (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 4), New York: King's Crown Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 4, page 21.

Source: wiktionary.org