breakbone fever

[ breyk-bohn ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. dengue.

breakbone fever

/ ˈbreɪkˌbəʊn /

noun

1. another name for dengue

Word History and Origins

Origin of breakbone fever¹

1860–65; break + bone, so called because it makes the bones ache as if breaking at the joints

Example Sentences

Commonplaces of gossip followed this—county politics and a neighbor's wife sick of breakbone fever down the road a piece.

From Project Gutenberg

Commonplaces of gossip followed this—county politics, and a neighbor's wife sick of breakbone fever down the road a piece.

From Project Gutenberg