lunger

¹ American  

[luhng-er] / ˈlʌŋ ər /

noun

Informal.

1. a person who has chronic lung disease, especially tuberculosis.

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lunger ² American  

[luhn-jer] / ˈlʌn dʒər /

noun

1. a person or thing that lunges. lunge.

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Etymology

Origin of lunger¹

First recorded in 1890–95; lung + -er ¹

Origin of lunger²

First recorded in 1835–45; lunge ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

His father was a "lunger," and ex-professor from the East; his mother a vestal virgin dedicated to keeping the home fires burning.

From Time Magazine Archive

The lunger in turn tries to make the hopper put down his second foot or unfold arms.

From Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium by Bancroft, Jessie Hubbell

Aw'm noan beawn to ston here so mich lunger.

From Stephen Archer and Other Tales by MacDonald, George

"Your wife isn't a lunger, is she?" the landlord inquired.

From I Walked in Arden by Crawford, Jack

I've got one book — it's poetry — A bunch of pretty wrongs An Eastern lunger gave to me; He said 'twas "shepherd songs."

From Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp by Lomax, John Avery