pox

[ poks ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a disease characterized by multiple skin pustules, as smallpox.
2. syphilis.
3. Also called soil rot. Plant Pathology. a disease of sweet potatoes, characterized by numerous pitlike lesions on the roots, caused by a fungus, Streptomyces ipomoea.
4. (used as an interjection to express distaste, rejection, aversion, etc.):

   A pox on you and your bright ideas!

pox

/ pɒks /

noun

1. any disease characterized by the formation of pustules on the skin that often leave pockmarks when healed
2. See syphilis
   the pox
   the pox an informal name for syphilis
3. a pox on someone archaic.
   a pox on someone interjection an expression of intense disgust or aversion for someone

Word History and Origins

Origin of pox¹

1540–50 (earlier as surname); spelling variant of pocks, plural of pock

Word History and Origins

Origin of pox¹

C15: changed from pocks, plural of pock

Example Sentences

At the genetic level, the two viruses are “85% identical,” says Jason Mercer, a pox virologist at the University of Birmingham.

From MIT Technology Review

One member of the enzyme family is found in skin cells, where people with monkeypox can develop infectious pox lesions.

From Science News

It was a deadly disease, and even survivors suffered miserably from fever, vomiting, headaches and pus-filled pox.

From Washington Post

Since then, the 3,000 or so units have remained in countries throughout Africa, says Lieberman, and are used to store routine vaccines for diseases such as measles, polio, chicken pox, and hepatitis.

From MIT Technology Review

The virus that gives children chicken pox will hide out in a person’s body for 40 years or more, and then emerge as a painful, sometimes debilitating, case of shingles.

From Nautilus

Indeed the earliest vaccinations against small pox were done 1,000 years ago in China.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast, the actual chicken pox virus long ago exited my bloodstream and is not detectable.

From The Daily Beast

For example, though I had chicken pox decades ago, I still have antibody to chicken pox.

From The Daily Beast

I mean, even Ron Fournier of National Journal, usually devoted to the pox-on-both-houses, why-can't-Obama-lead?

From The Daily Beast

Libertarians, of course, have grimly wished a pox on both their houses of Congress.

From The Daily Beast

Then there was the cholera that came in the night to the village by the bridge-works; and after the cholera smote the small-pox.

From Project Gutenberg

The cows soon became affected with the Cow Pox, and soon after several sores appeared on his hands.

From Project Gutenberg

This woman had the Cow Pox when she lived in the service of a Farmer in this parish thirty-one years before.

From Project Gutenberg

She has since been repeatedly employed as a nurse to Small-pox patients, without experiencing any ill consequences.

From Project Gutenberg

He became ill on the 6th day with symptoms similar to those excited by Cow-pox matter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gonorrhea
• herpes
• syphilis