What's a miasma?

Search: miasma

Why: On the Cracked article about "Cats and Their Owners":

You can invariably tell a cat owner by the light coating of shed fur and scratches they carry around, like the miasma of failure.

Answer: n.

1 : a vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease; also : a heavy vaporous emanation or atmosphere
2 : an influence or atmosphere that tends to deplete or corrupt ; also : an atmosphere that obscures : fog

from Greek, defilement, from miainein "to pollute"

Source: Merriam-Webster

The More You Know: If you have a few hours (it took me 6 and a half - I got distracted helping my mom plant a "Holiday Tree" on her Farm[ville]), read "Cat Care."