[Irreg. f. L. spīr-āre to breathe: see -OMETER.] An instrument for measuring the breathing power of the lungs.
1846. Hutchinson, in Medico-Chirurg. Trans., XXIX. 146. General and practical deductions, to detect disease by the spirometer, with the method of its application.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., 276. Estimating height, weight, force by the dynamometer and the spirometer.
1877. M. Foster, Physiol., II. ii. (1878), 255. It may be measured by a modification of a gas meter called a spirometer.
Hence Spirometric, Spirometrical adjs.
1887. Jrnl. Education, No. 210. 29. The distance naturally separating them … on the spirometric register.
1887. C. Denison, Pref. Climate Consumption, 9. The large spirometrical records of those who live at great elevations.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 310. (a) Increase of chest circumference, (b) increase of spirometric capacity.
