crepitation

 
Pronunciation: /ˌkrɛpɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

  • 1a crackling or rattling sound: pistol-like crepitations
  • Medicine a crackling sound made when breathing with an inflamed lung, detected using a stethoscope: chest examination showed left basal crepitations
  • 2 [mass noun] Entomology the explosive ejection of irritant fluid from the abdomen of a bombardier beetle.

Origin:

mid 17th century: from French crépitation or Latin crepitatio(n-), from the verb crepitare (see crepitate)