pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

is the longest word

in most major english dictionaries

it refers to a cancer of the lung

caused by inhaling strange volcanic particles

(or whatever's in the air)

and is recognized medically

as silicosis

also known

as potter’s rot

that is often misdiagnosed

as tuberculosis

which is a different disease

that killed thoreau

kafka

chekhov

and (eventually)

doc holiday

who was portrayed by val kilmer

in a movie

called tombstone