Q fever

noun

, Pathology.

1. an acute, influenzalike disease caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetti.

Q fever

noun

1. an acute disease characterized by fever and pneumonia, transmitted to man by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii

Word History and Origins

Origin of Q fever¹

First recorded in 1935–40; abbreviation of query

Word History and Origins

Origin of Q fever¹

C20: from q ( uery ) fever (the cause being unknown when it was named)