n pl but sing in constr :  a dyspneic breathing that is marked by throbbing movements of the sides of the chest due to spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm analogous to those of hiccups in humans, is esp. common in young pigs, and is associated with nutritional anemia or the passage of larval ascarid worms through the lungs : also  :  a disease (as a nutritional anemia or verminous pneumonia) of young pigs of which thumps is a symptom .
 
 
 
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