lunger

¹

[ luhng-er ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a person who has chronic lung disease, especially tuberculosis.

lunger

²

[ luhn-jer ]

noun

1. a person or thing that lunges. lunge.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunger¹

First recorded in 1890–95; lung + -er ¹

Origin of lunger²

First recorded in 1835–45; lunge ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

In contrast, king snakes are “lungers,” attacking prey straight on, much more slowly—at about 1.5 meters per second—and piercing it with both the top and bottom teeth at the same time.

From Science Magazine

Frank Wiggins was another “lunger,” a man California historian Kevin Starr called “one of the master promoters of the early 20th century.”

From Los Angeles Times

A captain involved in the Serbian nationalist movement who goes by the name of Apis, he’s hunting down “lungers,” young men with TB who won’t mind sacrificing their lives for the cause of Slavic unification.

From Los Angeles Times

The various and sundry accusations concerning Donald Trump — that he was a grabber and a groper, a lunger and a black belt in the quick feel — have encouraged countless other women to speak up.

From Washington Post

“Librarians are not lungers. And this is a strength; they want to know what it is they are advocating about.”

From The Guardian