Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "halitus" shine "warin warin baki ko ƙamshi mai fitowa daga baki." Yana kama da kalmar "halitosis," wanda ke nufin wani wari mai dagewa kuma mara dadi a cikin numfashi. Halitosis na iya zama sanadin abubuwa daban-daban, kamar rashin tsaftar baki, ciwon gumi, bushewar baki, shan taba, da wasu yanayin kiwon lafiya.