iron lung

American  

noun

1. a chamberlike respirator, formerly used in the treatment of poliomyelitis, that encloses the whole body except the head and in which alternate pulsations of high and low pressure induce normal breathing movements or force air into and out of the lungs.

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iron lung British  

noun

1. an airtight metal cylinder enclosing the entire body up to the neck and providing artificial respiration when the respiratory muscles are paralysed, as by poliomyelitis

2. informal a gas container used in dispensing beer

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Etymology

Origin of iron lung

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

iron lung

Lane spent the next several months in an iron lung.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2024

Watch: Philip Alexander remembers his brother, 'the man in the iron lung'

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

In moments of desperation like these, Paul had access to more portable breathing devices, which used a different sort of technology to the iron lung.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

He helped Paul move apartments when needed, and serviced the iron lung regularly: "It was always a pleasure to be around Paul - he had a very upbeat and positive attitude."

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

Cootie spent a year inside an iron lung that breathed for him, and he’d been in and out of hospitals ever since.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot