phlebotomy, phlebotomie

[French phlébotomie, from Lat. phlebotomia, from Gr. phle botomia, from phleps (gen it. phlebos ) =a vein, and tome a cutting.] The act or practice of opening a vein for the letting of blood; bloodletting. phlegm ( g silent), *fleg me, subst . [Fr. phlegme, from Lat. phlegm a , from Gr. phlegm a =(1) a flame, (2) inflammation, (3) phlegm, from phlegō =to burn; İtal. flemma ; Port. flegma ; Sp.flema.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. Literally: *(1) Cold animal fluid; watery matter, forming one of the humors of the body. "Phlegm amongst the ancients signified a cold viscous humor, contrary to the etymology of the word but amongst them there were two sorts of phlegm, cold and hot."-Arbuthnot: On Aliments, ch. vi. (2) In the same sense as II. 2. 2. Fig .: Coldne , indifference; want or absence of ardor, pa ion, or interest. "The hard and worldly phlegm Of those whose eyes are only turn'd below." Byron: Childe Harold , iii. 75. II. Technically: *1. Chem.: [PHLEGM A.] 2. Med .: Strictly speaking, the mucus secreted by the air pa ages, but popularly used for all matter coughed up from the lungs. phlěg-mą, s. [PHLEGM.] Chem.: An old name for the watery residue left in the distillation of acid or spirituous liquids. ( Watts .)