pellagra

[puh-lag-ruh, -ley-gruh, -lah-]

noun Pathology.

a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin changes, severe nerve dysfunction, mental symptoms, and diarrhea.

Origin of pellagra

1805–15; < Italian < New Latin: skin disease, equivalent to pell(is) skin + -agra < Greek ágra seizure

Related formspel·la·grose, pel·la·grous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pellagra

Historical Examples of pellagra

After this he made some important investigations into the causes of pellagra.
The Criminal
Havelock Ellis
The manifestations of pellagra are periodic and its duration indeterminate.
Handbook of Medical Entomology
William Albert Riley
Summary of two years' study of insects in relation to pellagra.
Handbook of Medical Entomology
William Albert Riley
He said the languorous Southern atmosphere give 'em pellagra or something.
Somewhere in Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson
Pellagra is epidemic in northern Italy and the south of France.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883
Various

British Dictionary definitions for pellagra

pellagra

noun

pathol a disease caused by a dietary deficiency of nicotinic acid, characterized by burning or itching often followed by scaling of the skin, inflammation of the mouth, diarrhoea, mental impairment, etc

Derived Formspellagrous, adjective

Word Origin for pellagra

C19: via Italian from pelle skin + -agra, from Greek agra paroxysm

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 pellagra

chronic disease caused by dietary deficiency and characterized by skin eruptions, 1811, a hybrid formed from Latin pellis "skin" (see film (n.)) + Greek agra "a catching, seizure," related to agrein "to take, seize." But OED suggests it might be originally Italian pelle agra "rough skin." Related: Pellagrous.

pellagra in Medicine

pellagra

[pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə, -lä′-]

A disease caused by a deficiency of niacin and protein in the diet and characterized by skin eruptions, digestive and nervous system disturbances, and eventual mental deterioration.

Related formspel•lag′rous adj.

pellagra in Science

pellagra

[pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə]

A disease caused by a lack of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin and digestive disorders and mental deterioration.