Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PHLO-GIS'TON, n. [Gr. φλογιστος, from φλογιζω, to burn or inflame; φλεγω, to burn.]

The principle of inflammability; the matter of fire in composition with other bodies. Stahl gave this name to an hypothetical element which he supposed to be pure fire fixed in combustible bodies, in order to distinguish it from fire in action or in a state of liberty. But the theory has been proved to be false, and is generally abandoned. – Bartram.