Fleme

/flem/ noun

Definition

An archaic spelling or variant of phlegm, the viscous fluid secreted in the respiratory and digestive systems.

Etymology

A variant of flem and flegm, from Old French flegme and Greek phlegma; the -e ending was common in Middle English to indicate nouns.

Kelly Says

Medieval texts used dozens of spellings for the same word, which is wild—'fleme,' 'flegm,' and 'phlegm' all meant the same thing, but writers just spelled however they felt!

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