brain fever

American  

noun

1. cerebrospinal meningitis.

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brain fever British  

noun

1. inflammation of the brain or its covering membranes

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Etymology

Origin of brain fever

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Suddenly she was a single mother of two daughters, mourning the deaths of her husband from typhoid fever and their first daughter, who died of brain fever.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

The child contracted the herpes simplex virus at Watford General hospital, which led to a brain fever.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2018

Some said brain fever, others claimed a surfeit of pork chops.

From Salon • Oct. 15, 2012

“I thought the sister-in-law had brain fever; she should’ve seen a doc,” I said, but no one else agreed.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2012

After the disastrous matchmaking attempt, Mrs. Brenner had gossiped to me that Raizel’s parents had cut her hair short at a physician’s advice, due to a touch of brain fever.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros