heartburn

Definition

A burning pain in the chest that is caused by stomach acid entering the gullet.

Etymology

From Middle English hertbryne, herte-bren (“lust", also "heartburn”, literally “heart burn”), equivalent to heart + burn. Compare also Middle English herte-brennyng (“anger, bitterness, heartburn”, literally “burning of/in the heart, heart-burning”). Compare also Ancient Greek καρδιαλγία (kardialgía), from καρδία (kardía, “heart”) + ἄλγος (álgos, “pain”). From being a burning sensation near the location of the heart in the chest.

Example Sentences

• "Coordinate term: cardiodynia"
• "”There’s some heartburn about the fact the message is getting stepped on,” said Mark McKinnon, Bush’s campaign media strategist."
• "America’s policy of containing both the Soviet Union and its Chinese ally did cause some heartburn in Tokyo."