bysso-, byss- +
(Greek: flax)
acute byssinosis
A form of byssinosis occurring in those who return to work after a weekend or other time away, marked by tightness of the chest, wheezing, and cough.
byssaceous
Byssuslike; consisting of fine fibers or threads, as some very delicate filamentous algae.
byssiferous
Bearing a byssus or tuft.
byssin, byss
1. A cloth of exceedingly fine texture, used by the ancients.
It is disputed whether it was of cotton, linen, or silk.
2. A tuft of long, tough filaments which are formed in a groove of the foot, and issue from between the valves of certain bivalve mollusks; such as the, Pinna and Mytilus, by which they attach themselves to rocks, etc.
byssine
Made of silk; having a silky or flaxlike appearance.
byssinosis
1. A respiratory disease caused by prolonged inhalation of dust from textile fibers, marked by coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and permanent lung damage.
2. A pulmonary disease seen in cotton textile workers and preparers of flax and soft hemp, due to inhalation of textile dust.
byssinotic
1. Pertaining to byssinosis.
2. Someone who is affected with byssinosis.
byssoid
Made up of a fringe, the filaments of which are unequal in length.
byssus (s), byssi (pl)
1. In zoology, a mass of strong, silky filaments by which certain bivalve mollusks; such as, mussels, which attach themselves to rocks and other fixed surfaces.
2. A fine-textured linen of ancient times, used by the Egyptians for wrapping mummies.
chronic byssinosis
A reference to byssinosis in workers who have had years of exposure to textile dust, marked by permanent dyspnea, probably due to smooth muscle contraction after histamine release induced by chemicals in the dust.
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