Middle English Dictionary Entry
disma n.
Entry Info
| Forms | disma n. |
| Etymology | ML |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. disnia n. Due to minim confusion, some examples in -m- should perhaps be read as containing -ni- and vice versa.
1.
Labored or short breathing; dyspnea.
Associated quotations
- [ a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)18 : Disma est species asmatis, sed disma fit ex siccitate, asma ex humiditate. ]
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)310/18 : Þou miȝt make a cauterie toward þe forke of þe brest aboue for disma [L dissuriam].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)40b/b : Iuel signez & dredful in squinancie beþe disma strong [*Ch.(2): strong disma (Norri reads: disnia) i. straytenesse of breþe; L disma (Norri reads: dismia) fortis] & oregmica, grete difficulte of swolwyng.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.33ra (2.3) : Wiþin þis pipes of þe lunges is oþerwhile gaderede & gendred..foule corrupt mater, and þat causeth a maladie þat is callede 'sansugium': sumtyme wiþoute þe pipes, fast by aboute hem, & þan it causeth sekenes þat is callede disma and sometyme a sekenes þat is callede asma.
Note: Additional quot.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: MED has taken the same example from Chauliac (2) under both disma and disnia, reading -m- in the one case and -ni- in the other.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. disma.