shingles

[ shing-guhlz ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, especially by reactivated virus in an older person, characterized by skin eruptions and pain along the course of involved sensory nerves.

shingles

/ ˈʃɪŋɡəlz /

noun

1. functioning as singular an acute viral disease affecting the ganglia of certain nerves, characterized by inflammation, pain, and skin eruptions along the course of the affected nerve Technical namesherpes zosterzoster

shingles

/ shĭng′gəlz /

1. See under herpes

Word History and Origins

Origin of shingles¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin cingulum, in Latin: “girdle,” from cingere “to gird, cinch” ( cincture ); translation of Greek zṓnē “belt” or zōstḗr “girdle”; zone, zoster

Word History and Origins

Origin of shingles¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cingulum girdle, rendering Greek zōnē zone

Example Sentences

It would be akin to the shingles vaccine, which prevents the painful reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in nerve cells.

From Science News

Freeman says she has seen an increase in the number of post-vaccine shingles cases, as well, although proof of a vaccine connection has not been established.

From Washington Post

The woman had shingles and severe arthritis, and her eyesight and hearing were diminishing.

From The Daily Beast

He swapped fish caught in the Potomac for shingles, planks, nails, and rum for the field hands at harvest time.

From The Daily Beast

Loss is grief, worry, insomnia, shingles, weeping, and just plain needing someone who is no longer there.

From The Daily Beast

It was built of logs and roofed with rough cedar shingles hand-split on the spot.

From Project Gutenberg

Red or giant cedar, which rivals the Douglas fir in girth, is plentiful, and is used for shingles as well as for interior work.

From Project Gutenberg

You would think that a man with a wooden leg was having a fit on the shingles right over our heads.

From Project Gutenberg

The polite thing for him to do would be to step down on the shingles and walk around them, but does he do it?

From Project Gutenberg

He gives the nearest youngster a vicious peck that makes him jump in the air and land sprawling a few feet down on the shingles.

From Project Gutenberg