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.

---

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

---

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

He was allowed to venture into the neighbourhood in his wheelchair with childhood friends, returning to the iron lung when he was tired.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

When he died recently at the age of 78, Paul had spent more than seven decades using his iron lung, longer than anyone else in history.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

That led his parents to make the brave decision to take him and his iron lung home, to live out his days in peace.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2024

My head sticks out the end of the iron lung.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood