catarrh

From Middle English catarre, from Medieval Latin catarrus, from Late Latin catarrhus, from Ancient Greek κατάρροος (katárrhoos), which is derived from καταρρέω (katarrhéō, “I flow down”), which is composed of κατά (katá, “down”) and ῥέω (rhéō, “I flow”).

• IPA^(key): /kəˈtɑɹ/
• Homophone: Qatar

catarrh (countable and uncountable, plural catarrhs)

1. (pathology) Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 3:

     Jonah mixed him a pitch-like potion of gin and molasses, which he swore was a sovereign cure for all colds and catarrhs whatsoever ...

   • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:

     “Where I went wrong,” he said, still speaking in that low, husky voice as if he had been a ghost suffering from catarrh, “was in getting engaged to Phyllis Mills.”

2. A discharge of fluid associated with this condition.

• cold
• flu
• grippe, grip
• influenza
• pose
• sinusitis

• Carhart