dropsy

American  

[drop-see] / ˈdrɒp si /

noun

1. (formerly) edema.

2. an infectious disease of fishes, characterized by a swollen, spongelike body and protruding scales, caused by a variety of the bacterium Pseudomonas punctata.

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dropsy British  

/ ˈdrɒpsɪ, ˈdrɒpsɪkəl /

noun

1. pathol a condition characterized by an accumulation of watery fluid in the tissues or in a body cavity

2. slang a tip or bribe

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Other Word Forms

• dropsical
  adjective
• dropsically
  adverb
• dropsied
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dropsy

1250–1300; Middle English drop ( e ) sie, aphetic variant of ydropesie < Old French < Medieval Latin ( h ) ydrōpisīa, equivalent to Latin hydrōpis ( is ) (< Greek hydrōpi-, stem of hýdrōps dropsy ( hydr- hydr- ¹ + -ōpsi- < ?) + -sis -sis ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Dropsy of the pericardium will give the same wide space of dullness, but the impulse and sound are lessened.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

His descriptions of the Rickets, Rupture, Rheumatism, Scrophula, Dropsy, Scurvy, &c. are equally perspicuous and perfect.

From Deformities of Samuel Johnson, Selected from his Works by Anonymous

Also the Woman with the Dropsy, which is accounted his chef-d'œuvre.

From Six Centuries of Painting by Davies, Randall

Dropsy is commonly considered as a disease of debility, but in these cases it often appeared, while the strength was unimpaired, and the heart acted with very extraordinary force.

From Cases of Organic Diseases of the Heart by Warren, John Collins

Against the Scorbutick Dropsy, take the Essence of Trifolium Febrinum and Elicampane, from twenty four Drops to thirty, and continue the use thereof.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel