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pellagra

[puh-lag-ruh, -ley-gruh, -lah-]
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noun Pathology.
  1. a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin changes, severe nerve dysfunction, mental symptoms, and diarrhea.
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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

  • 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.

British Dictionary definitions for pellagra

pellagra

noun
  1. 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
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Derived Formspellagrous, adjective

Word Origin

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

n.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
pellagra in Medicine

pellagra

(pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə, -lä′-)
n.
  1. 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.
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Related formspel•lag′rous adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
pellagra in Science

pellagra

[pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə]
  1. A disease caused by a lack of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin and digestive disorders and mental deterioration.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.