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 • Feb. 28, 2020

Once again, like a recurring jungle fever, Viet Nam forced itself to the front of the nation's consciousness.

From Time Magazine Archive

His second, picked up en route, died of jungle fever.

From Time Magazine Archive

Jungle fever, my dear fellow, jungle fever; caught in that beastly tiger-hunt.

From Mr. Isaacs by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

“Tigers are pests enough,” said the doctor, “but intermittent or jungle fever is to my mind the pest of the country.”

From Middy and Ensign by Rowlandson, G. D.