wheeze

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun breathing with a husky or whistling sound
  2. noun (Briticism) a clever or amusing scheme or trick
  3. verb breathe with difficulty

Etymology

From Middle English whesen, perhaps from Old Norse hvæsa (“to hiss”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwes- (“to pant”).

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