jungle fever

American  

[juhng-guhl fee-ver] / ˈdʒʌŋ gəl ˈfi vər /

noun

1. Pathology. a severe variety of malarial fever occurring in the East Indies and the tropics.

2. Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a person’s preference for a sexual or romantic relationship that is interracial, especially the preference of a white person for a Black partner.

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jungle fever British  

noun

1. a serious malarial fever occurring in the East Indies

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Etymology

Origin of jungle fever

First recorded in 1795–1805, and in 1960–65 jungle fever for def. 2

Example Sentences

Welsh, a Purple Heart recipient, was wounded twice and survived both malaria and a jungle fever in three island campaigns.

From Washington Times

I have gone through the hell of sickness in a lonely post, when day after day the awful pains of jungle fever tortured me and night brought no relief.

From Project Gutenberg

My wife, too, Mahmoud, chased on shore—death by jungle fever.

From Project Gutenberg

I feel just as I did when I was laid up with a bad attack of jungle fever in India.

From Project Gutenberg

He there fell a victim to jungle fever. 

From Project Gutenberg