Flatulence
/ˈflætʃəˌlɛns/noun
The production or expulsion of gas from the digestive tract, especially through the anus.
Did you know?Flatulence comes through Latin flatulentia from flatuere, tied to flatus (“a blowing” or “breath”), so the word’s oldest meaning is more about air and exhalation than embarrassment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleh₁-
“to blow”
Latin
Latin
flare
“to blow”
Latin
Latin
flatus
“a blowing, breath, puff of wind”
Late Latin
Latin
flatulentia
“a blowing, puffing up; windiness”
Middle French
Old French
flatulence
“windiness, bloated condition”
Modern English
English
flatulence
“the production or expulsion of intestinal gas”