expectorate

 
Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt, ɛk-/

verb

[with object]
  • cough or spit out (phlegm) from the throat or lungs: she was expectorating dirty coloured sputum [no object]: a sign asks visitors not to expectorate in the sinks

Derivatives

expectoration

Pronunciation: /-ˈreɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'enable sputum to be coughed up', referring to medicine): from Latin expectorat- 'expelled from the chest', from the verb expectorare, from ex- 'out' + pectus, pector- 'breast'