pebrine

[ pey-breen ]

noun

1. an infectious disease of silkworms, characterized by a black spotting of the integument and by stunted growth, caused by the protozoan Nosema bomycis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pebrine¹

1865–70; < French < Provençal pebrino literally, peppery, with reference to the black spots. See pepper, -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Pasteur showed that the failure of the silkworm was not due to one disease, but to two diseases--pebrine and flacherie.

From Project Gutenberg

The disease of silkworms, known as Pebrine, was spreading with ruinous rapidity in France.

From Project Gutenberg

Pebrine soon reached Cyprus and almost brought the Island breed to an end.

From Project Gutenberg