lunger
/'lʌɳgə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A person with pulmonary tuberculosis: "lunger" is an informal, dated, and often offensive term for someone suffering from tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs.
- Someone who moves forward suddenly: In sports like fencing or similar contexts, a "lunger" is a person who makes a sudden, forward thrusting movement.
Usage Examples
Noun (Person with tuberculosis): In the 19th century, a lunger might travel to a sanatorium in the mountains for the fresh air. (Historical context: The term is now considered archaic and insensitive.)
Noun (Person making a sudden forward move): The fencer was a quick lunger, catching his opponent off guard with a sudden attack. Be careful of that player; he's a known lunger on the soccer field.
Advanced Usage
- The term "lunger" for a tuberculosis patient is largely historical and carries a negative, stigmatizing connotation. Its use today is generally discouraged in favor of neutral medical terminology (e.g., "a person with TB").
- In its sporting sense, "lunger" is more descriptive and less common, often used to characterize a player's aggressive style.
Variants and Related Words
- Lunge (noun/verb): The action from which the noun "lunger" is derived. A sudden forward movement or thrust.
- Lunging (present participle/gerund): The act of making a lunge.
Synonyms
- For a person with TB: consumptive (archaic/offensive), TB patient (neutral).
- For someone who lunges: thruster, charger.
Related Phrases
- To take a lunge at: To make a sudden forward movement toward someone or something, often to attack or grab.
- A lunge forward: A phrase describing the sudden movement itself.
Notes on Usage
- Caution: When referring to a medical condition, the term "lunger" is outdated and pejorative. It is important to use respectful, person-first language.
- The sporting use of "lunger" is niche and may not be widely understood outside specific contexts like fencing or descriptive sports commentary.
Noun
-
a person with pulmonary tuberculosis
-
someone who moves forward suddenly (as in fencing)
