miasm (miazm)

[ F.miasme = Sp. Pg. It. miasma, The plague is a malignant fever, caused through pestilential miasms insinuating into the humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey, Consumptions. 3746 miasma (mi-az'mä), n.; pl. miasmata (-ma-tä). [NL.: see miasm.] The emanations or effluvia arising from the ground and floating in the atmosphere, considered to be infectious or otherwise injurious to health; noxious emanations; malaria. Also called aërial poison. miasmal (mi-az'mal), a. [ swamps.