Anthracosis
/ˌænθrəˈkoʊsɪs/noun
A lung condition caused by the accumulation of coal dust or carbon particles in lung tissue.
Did you know?The term comes from Ancient Greek anthrax, meaning “coal” or “charcoal,” the same word that later gave English anthrax because certain lesions were dark like burnt coal.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἄνθραξ (ánthrax)
“Coal, charcoal, or a coal-like black substance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀνθράκωσις (anthrākōsis)
“A condition involving coal-like blackening or carbon deposits”
Late Greek
Greek
anthrაკosis
“Blackening or disease associated with coal-like material”
19th Century
Medical Latin
anthracosis
“Pathological pigmentation or carbon deposition, especially in the lungs”
Modern English
English
anthracosis
“Accumulation of coal dust or carbon pigment in the lungs, commonly called black lung”
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