tobacco heart

noun

, Pathology.

1. a functional disorder of the heart, characterized by a rapid and often irregular pulse, caused by excessive use of tobacco.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tobacco heart¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

There was too much officious paternalism in the air, too many admonitions and not enough lightness of heart—of tobacco heart if necessary.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, when he has sown his wild oats, perhaps he'll come to her, at his own good pleasure, and lay at her feet what he has achieved—a pleasant smattering of things generally talked about, a comprehensive intimacy with things generally not talked about, a tobacco heart, and a set of nerves which make him unfit for publication three days in the week.

From Project Gutenberg

But science has not been idle in regard to the investigation of the effects of tobacco, and the discoveries made have been published, so that we are not now ignorant of the tobacco heart, or tobacco throat, or tobacco nerves, nor of the transmission of nerve degeneracy to the children of smokers.

From Project Gutenberg

The "irritable heart," the "tobacco heart," a life of promise impaired or blighted.

From Project Gutenberg

The number of prominent persons who have died of "tobacco heart" indicates that the rate of those whose heart action is weakened by the use of tobacco is probably very large.

From Project Gutenberg