Asthma

Asth″ma (?; 277), n. [Gr. � short-drawn breath, fr. � to blow, for �: cf. Skr. vā, Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.] (Med.) 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.