bluetongue

American  

[bloo-tuhng] / ˈbluˌtʌŋ /

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. a viral disease of sheep and sometimes cattle, transmitted by biting insects and characterized by high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the face and tongue, and cyanosis of the tongue.

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bluetongue ¹ British  

/ ˌbluːˈtʌŋ /

noun

1. an Australian lizard, Tiliqua scincoides , having a cobalt-blue tongue

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bluetongue ² British  

/ ˌbluːˈtʌŋ /

noun

1. vet science a viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants transmitted by arthropods and characterized by reproductive problems or vasculitis. Sheep, which are most frequently affected, develop swelling of the face and a cyanotic tongue

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Etymology

Origin of bluetongue

First recorded in 1860–65; blue + tongue

Example Sentences

Skelly said she was considering vaccinating her ewes and lambs against bluetongue virus - a disease spread by biting midges that had previously been confined to Africa.

From BBC

Mallaghan said there was "a lot of fear" in the farming community with added pressure such as bluetongue and bird flu.

From BBC

Daera veterinary officer Ignatius McKeown said it was "difficult to say at this stage" how many cases of bluetongue will be found.

From BBC

Spread by midges, bluetongue poses no threat to the public or food safety but can affect cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and cattle.

From BBC

Spread by midges, bluetongue poses no threat to the public or food safety but can have serious consequences for cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and cattle.

From BBC