effluvium
/ɪˈfluːvi.əm/ noun
Forms effluvia effluviums
- noun A gaseous or vaporous emission, especially a foul-smelling one.
- noun A condition causing the shedding of hair.
Etymology
From Latin effluvium (“an outlet”), from effluō (“flow out or away”), from ex (“out of, from”) + fluō (“flow”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Subtile or invisible emanation; exhalation perceived by the sense of smell; especially, noisome or noxious exhalation; as, the effluvium from diseased or putrefying bodies, or from ill drainage.
Etymology [L., a flowing out, fr. effluere to flow out. See Effluent, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “effluvium”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details