favus

[fey-vuhs]

noun

plural

favuses, favi 

1. Pathology.,  a skin disease, especially of the scalp, characterized by dry yellow encrustations that have an unpleasant odor, usually caused by the fungus Trichophyton schoenleinii.

2. a hexagonal paving tile or stone.

favus

/ ˈfeɪvəs /

noun

1. an infectious fungal skin disease of man and some domestic animals, characterized by formation of a honeycomb-like mass of roundish dry cup-shaped crusts

Word History and Origins

Origin of favus¹

1705–10; < New Latin, special use of Latin favus honeycomb

Word History and Origins

Origin of favus¹

C19: from New Latin, from Latin: honeycomb

Example Sentences

They avoided passengers who seemed to be suffering from trachoma or favus.

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Their heads were wrapped in white cloth; they suffered from favus, a scalp disease.

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Closely allied to this is epithelic morbid influence—namely, that of the parasites producing certain affections of the skin, as itch, favus, etc.

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Scald′berry, the blackberry; Scald′-crow, the hooded crow; Scald′-head, a fungous parasitic disease of the scalp, favus.

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In favus of the nail frequent and close paring of the affected part and the application, twice daily, of one of the milder parasiticides, will eventually lead to a good result.

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