byssinosis

[bis-uh-noh-sis]

noun

Pathology.

1. brown lung.

byssinosis

/ ˌbɪsɪˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. a lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of fibre dust in textile factories

Word History and Origins

Origin of byssinosis¹

1885–90; < Greek býssin ( os ) fine flax, linen (equivalent to býss ( os ) byssus + -inos -ine ¹ ) + -osis

Word History and Origins

Origin of byssinosis¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek bussinos of linen (see _byssus ) + _-osis

Example Sentences

During the industrial revolution, byssinosis or brown lung disease, befell textile plant workers due to cotton or other fibers in the factory’s air.

From Scientific American

The textile industry, for example, opposed OSHA’s plan to crack down on cotton dust, which caused an often-lethal respiratory disease called byssinosis—brown lung.

From Slate

In addition, the rate of byssinosis -- a lung disease specifically linked to on-the-job exposure to cotton dust -- declined from 8 percent to less than 2 percent.

From Reuters