national healthn.adj.
/ˌnaʃn̩(ə)l ˈhɛlθ/, /ˌnaʃən(ə)l ˈhɛlθ/, U.S. /ˌnæʃən(ə)l ˈhɛlθ/, /ˌnæʃn(ə)l ˈhɛlθ/ A. n.
1. Health as it concerns a nation as a whole.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [noun] > of community
public health1617
national health1847
community health1856
general health1870
1847 Jrnl. Statist. Soc. 10 274 It extends the rule of a Cabinet Minister from ‘possessions’..to the domain of National Health, which has always held the first place in the meditations of Legislators.
1908 National Health 1 8/2 There is nothing in life..that approaches in importance this subject of individual and national health.
1911 D. Lloyd George Insurance of People 2 A few weeks ago I had the honour of introducing in the House of Commons a measure dealing with proposals for securing the national health.
2. colloquial. With the and capital initials: = National Health Service n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical services and administration > [noun] > health service
health service1935
National Health Service1946
NHS1948
national health1952
Medicare1953
Medicaid1966
Medibank1974
1952 A. Christie Mrs. McGinty's Dead xii. 96 Nowadays even if you've got a chilblain you run to the doctor with it so as to get your money's worth out of the National Health.
1999 Sun 22 June 11/4 He is receiving outpatient treatment on the National Health.
B. adj.
With capital initials: of or relating to the National Health Service; designating a product, treatment, etc., provided by the National Health Service.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical services and administration > [adjective] > health service
national health1958
Medibank1974
1958 J. Cannan And be Villain i. 23 A doctor w'at was too taken up by 'is posh paying patients to trouble with a National 'Ealth kid.
1967 Melody Maker 27 May 5 With his bushy sideboards and National Health specs he resembled an animated Victorian watchmaker.
1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover ii. 13 Gritting his National Health teeth, [he] limped off.
1992 N. Hornby Fever Pitch 54 I..wore black-framed Brains-style National Health reading glasses.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1847