broken wind: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical / Specialized (veterinary), Historical
Quick answer
What does “broken wind” mean?
A chronic respiratory condition in horses, typically characterized by difficult or labored breathing and a persistent cough.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chronic respiratory condition in horses, typically characterized by difficult or labored breathing and a persistent cough; a symptom of emphysema in equines.
The phrase may be used metaphorically to describe a state of being out of breath or exhausted from exertion, though this is very rare and archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term itself is known in both regions within equestrian/veterinary circles, but is considered somewhat dated. The American term 'Heaves' is now more common.
Connotations
Technical, clinical, somewhat old-fashioned.
Frequency
Very infrequent in both regions, limited to historical texts or traditional horsemanship contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “broken wind” in a Sentence
The horse has broken wind.to be broken-winded (adjective form)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken wind” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old hunter was broken-winded and could no longer keep up with the field.
American English
- They retired the mare after she became broken-winded.
adjective
British English
- They were careful not to buy a broken-winded pony for the children.
American English
- The auction listing stated the gelding was sound and not broken-winded.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
May appear in historical veterinary or agricultural texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare to non-existent in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Primary context: veterinary medicine, specifically equine health, though considered a dated term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken wind”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken wind”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken wind”
- Using it to describe human asthma or general shortness of breath.
- Confusing it with 'breaking wind' (flatulence), which is a completely different and informal phrase.
- Using it as a verb phrase (e.g., 'The horse broken wind'). It is a noun phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the analogous condition in horses (equine asthma or Recurrent Airway Obstruction), but the term 'broken wind' is not used in human medicine.
No, this would be incorrect, archaic, and confusing. Use phrases like 'out of breath', 'short of breath', or 'winded' for people.
They are completely different. 'Broken wind' is a noun phrase for a horse's illness. 'Breaking wind' is a verb phrase meaning to flatulate and is informal.
It is understood but considered old-fashioned. Modern veterinarians use terms like 'Heaves' or 'Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)'.
A chronic respiratory condition in horses, typically characterized by difficult or labored breathing and a persistent cough.
Broken wind is usually technical / specialized (veterinary), historical in register.
Broken wind: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrəʊ.kən ˈwɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbroʊ.kən ˈwɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly from this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a horse's 'wind' (breath) being figuratively 'broken' or impaired, leading to a heaving chest.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREATH/HEALTH IS A STRUCTURAL OBJECT (that can be broken).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'broken wind'?