Lung
/lʌŋ/noun
Either of the pair of organs in the chest that supply oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide.
Did you know?The English word ultimately traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “light” or “white,” which is why its distant cousins include words for brightness and even the moon.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewk-
“to shine; bright, light”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*lungō
“lung”
Old English
OE
lyng / lungen
“lung”
Middle English
ME
lung(e)
“lung”
Modern English
English
lung
“either of the two organs used for breathing”