erysipelas

[er-uh-sip-uh-luh s, eer-uh-]

noun

Pathology. an acute, febrile infectious disease, caused by a specific streptococcus, characterized by diffusely spreading deep-red inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes.

Also called swine erysipelas. Veterinary Pathology. a disease of swine, caused by the organism Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, characterized by urticaria, vegetative endocarditis, arthritis, and sometimes septicemia.

Origin of erysipelas

1350–1400; Middle English erisipila < Latin erysipelas < Greek, equivalent to erysi- (probably akin to erythrós red) + -pelas probably skin (akin to pélma sole of the foot; compare Latin pellis skin)

Related formser·y·si·pel·a·tous

[er-uh-si-pel-uh-tuh s, eer-] /ˌɛr ə sɪˈpɛl ə təs, ˌɪər-/, adjectivepseu·do·er·y·si·pel·a·tous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for erysipelas

Historical Examples of erysipelas

His injuries about the head are so severe the doctors are in dread of erysipelas.'
Lord Kilgobbin
Charles Lever
Erysipelas, that terrible malady of the Middle Ages, consumed her.
En Route
J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans
One is so afraid of erysipelas with a wound of that kind; and it would be—fatal.
Captain Desmond, V.C.
Maud Diver
Erysipelas in pregnancy is rare, but not infrequent after delivery.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation
Austin O'Malley
We have Erysipelas, fever and gangrene, and the Russian wounded are the worst.
The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 1 of 2
Edward Tyas Cook

British Dictionary definitions for erysipelas

erysipelas

noun

an acute streptococcal infectious disease of the skin, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and purplish raised lesions, esp on the faceAlso called: Saint Anthony's fire

Derived Formserysipelatous (ˌɛrɪsɪˈpɛlətəs), adjective

Word Origin for erysipelas

C16: from Latin, from Greek erusipelas, from Greek erusi- red + -pelas skin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for erysipelas

late 14c., skin disease also known as St. Anthony's Fire, from Greek erysipelas, perhaps from erythros "red" (see red (1)) + pella "skin" (see film (n.)).

erysipelas in Medicine

erysipelas

[ĕr′ĭ-sĭp′ə-ləs, îr′-]

n.

An acute disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by a hemolytic bacterium and marked by localized inflammation and fever.Saint Anthony's fire

Related formser′y•si•pel′a•tous (-sĭ-pĕl′ə-təs) adj.