inflammation of the alveoli of the lungs caused by an allergic response to fungal spores in hay
farmer's lung in American English
noun
a lung disorder caused by inhalation of moldy hay dust, marked by shortness of breath, dry cough, and weight loss
Word origin
[1940–45]This word is first recorded in the period 1940–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Rh factor, blockbuster, redline, snorkel, zap
Examples of 'farmer's lung' in a sentence
farmer's lung
Farm workers suffered from farmer's lung disease from breathing in air from mouldy hay.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Farm workers suffered outbreaks of farmer's lung from mouldy hay.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And, by the way, the same is true of antifungals, the medicines we take for conditions as disparate as thrush and farmer's lung.