scrofula

[ skrof-yuh-luh ]

nounPathology.
  1. primary tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands, especially those of the neck.

Origin of scrofula

1
1350–1400; Middle English (plural) <Late Latin scrōfulae (Latin scrōf(a) sow + -ulae (plural) -ule), from the belief that breeding sows were susceptible

Words Nearby scrofula

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How to use scrofula in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scrofula

scrofula

/ (ˈskrɒfjʊlə) /


noun
  1. pathol (no longer in technical use) tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands: Also called (formerly): the king's evil

Origin of scrofula

1
C14: from Medieval Latin, from Late Latin scrōfulae swollen glands in the neck, literally: little sows (sows were thought to be particularly prone to the disease), from Latin scrōfa sow

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