carbuncle

[ kahr-buhng-kuh l ]
/ ˈkɑr bʌŋ kəl /

noun

Pathology. a painful circumscribed inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, resulting in suppuration and sloughing, and having a tendency to spread somewhat like a boil, but more serious in its effects.
a gemstone, especially a garnet, cut with a convex back and a cabochon surface.
Also called London brown. a dark grayish, red-brown color.
Obsolete. any rounded red gem.

adjective

having the color carbuncle.

Origin of carbuncle

1150–1200; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin carbunculus kind of precious stone, tumor, literally, live coal, equivalent to carbōn- (stem of carbō) burning charcoal + -culus -cule1, apparently assimilated to derivates from short-vowel stems; cf. homunculus

Example sentences from the Web for carbuncle

British Dictionary definitions for carbuncle

carbuncle
/ (ˈkɑːˌbʌŋkəl) /

noun

an extensive skin eruption, similar to but larger than a boil, with several openings: caused by staphylococcal infection
a rounded gemstone, esp a garnet cut without facets
a dark reddish-greyish-brown colour

Derived forms of carbuncle

carbuncled, adjective carbuncular (kɑːˈbʌŋkjʊlə), adjective

Word Origin for carbuncle

C13: from Latin carbunculus diminutive of carbō coal

Medical definitions for carbuncle

carbuncle
[ kärbŭng′kəl ]

n.

A deep-seated pyogenic infection of several contiguous hair follicles, with formation of connecting sinuses, often preceded or accompanied by fever, malaise, and prostration.
anthrax

Other words from carbuncle

car•buncu•lar (-kyə-lər) adj.