dropsy

[ drop-see ]

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.

dropsy

/ 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

Derived Forms

• dropsical, adjective
• ˈdropsically, adverb

Other Words From

• drop·sied [drop, -seed], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dropsy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dropsy¹

C13: shortened from ydropesie, from Latin hydrōpisis, from Greek hudrōps, from hudōr water

Example Sentences

I am very sorry to hear that Batt is detained at Oxford in a bad state of health, with some symptoms of a growing dropsy.

From Project Gutenberg

The old chief was suffering with dropsy, but under Moffat's medical care he recovered, and was soon able to walk about again.

From Project Gutenberg

I found him extremely unwell, with what I conceived to be a dropsy, for his abdomen was very much swollen.

From Project Gutenberg

Most of them died from intermitting fever, and from dropsy and rheumatism which followed it.

From Project Gutenberg

It is distinguished from common dropsy, by the lower parts of the stomach being most swollen.

From Project Gutenberg