yaws

[ yawz ]

/ yɔz /

noun (used with a singular verb) Pathology.

an infectious, nonvenereal tropical disease, primarily of children, characterized by raspberrylike eruptions of the skin and caused by a spirochete, Treponema pertenue, that is closely related to the agent of syphilis.

Nearby words

Compare mother yaw.

Origin of yaws

From Carib, dating back to 1670–80; see origin at -s³

Also called frambesia, pian.

yaw

[ yaw ]

/ yɔ /

verb (used without object)

to deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.

(of an aircraft) to have a motion about its vertical axis.

(of a rocket or guided missile) to deviate from a stable flight attitude by oscillation of the longitudinal axis in the horizontal plane.

verb (used with object)

to cause to yaw.

noun

a movement of deviation from a direct course, as of a ship.

a motion of an aircraft about its vertical axis.

an angle, to the right or left, determined by the direction of motion of an aircraft or spacecraft and its vertical and longitudinal plane of symmetry.

(of a rocket or guided missile)

the act of yawing.
the angular displacement of the longitudinal axis due to yawing.

Origin of yaw

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

yaw

[ yaw ]

/ yɔ /

noun Pathology.

one of the lesions of yaws.

Origin of yaw

First recorded in 1735–45; back formation from yaws

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for yaws

The yaws is not a dangerous, although a very disgusting, disease.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II|Arnold Cooley
It forms in time a crust or scab, the reddish appearance of which is very characteristic of the yaws eruption.
The Fijians|Basil Thomson
As a consequence, my yaws and fever grew more troublesome, and I was forced to go to bed.
Through the South Seas with Jack London|Martin Johnson
By this time, our yaws and Jack's undiagnosed illness were so bad that we were anxiously waiting for the steamer.
Through the South Seas with Jack London|Martin Johnson

“Yaws;” and Jim broke into a trot which he kept up until he reached his own porch.
The Launch Boys' Adventures in Northern Waters|Edward S. Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for yaws

yaws

/ (jɔːz) /

noun

(usually functioning as singular) an infectious nonvenereal disease of tropical climates with early symptoms resembling syphilis, characterized by red skin eruptions and, later, pain in the joints: it is caused by the spiral bacterium Treponema pertenueAlso called: framboesia

Word Origin for yaws

C17: of Carib origin

yaw

/ (jɔː) /

verb

(intr) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to turn about its vertical axisCompare pitch 1 (def. 11), roll (def. 14)

(intr) (of a ship, etc) to deviate temporarily from a straight course

(tr) to cause (an aircraft, ship, etc) to yaw

noun

the angular movement of an aircraft, missile, etc, about its vertical axis

the deviation of a vessel from a straight course

Word Origin for yaw

C16: of unknown origin

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 yaws

yaws

1670s, from Carib yaya, the native name for the disease.

yaw

"to fall away from the line of a course," 1540s, from Old Norse jaga, Old Danish jæge "to drive, chase," from Middle Low German jagen (see yacht).

Medicine definitions for yaws

yaws

[ yôz ]

n.

An infectious tropical disease caused by Treponema pertenue, characterized by the development of crusted granulomatous ulcers on the extremities that may cause bone and joint destruction in later stages of the disease.boubas bubas frambesia granuloma tropicum pian rupia

Science definitions for yaws

yaws

[ yôz ]

A highly contagious tropical disease that chiefly affects children, caused by the spirochete Treponema pertenue and characterized by raspberrylike sores, especially on the hands, feet, and face.

yaws

noun (used with a singular verb) Pathology.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of yaws

yaw

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of yaw

yaw

noun Pathology.

Origin of yaw

Examples from the Web for yaws

yaws

noun

Word Origin for yaws

yaw

verb

noun

Word Origin for yaw

yaws

yaw

yaws

n.

yaws