Asthma \Asth"ma\ (?; 277), n. [Gr. ? short-drawn breath, fr. ? to blow, for ?: cf. Skr. v[=a], Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.]

(Med.) A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)