Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

caisson disease

noun
|Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of caisson disease

: decompression sickness
Note: The name caisson disease stems from the occurrence of decompression sickness in individuals working on tunnel and bridge construction in underwater caissons filled with compressed air.

See caisson disease defined for kids

Recent Examples of caisson disease from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caisson disease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of caisson disease

1873

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

caisson disease

noun cais·son disease \ ˈkā-ˌsän-, ˈkās-ᵊn-; British often kə-ˈsün- \

medical Definition of caisson disease

: decompression sickness

Learn More about caisson disease

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about caisson disease

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up caisson disease? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

notorious

play

widely and unfavorably known

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

caisson disease

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games