erysipelas

[ er-uh-sip-uh-luh s, eer-uh- ]
/ ˌɛr əˈsɪp ə ləs, ˌɪər ə- /

noun

Pathology. an acute, febrile infectious disease, caused by a specific streptococcus, characterized by diffusely spreading deep-red inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes.
Also called swine erysipelas. Veterinary Pathology. a disease of swine, caused by the organism Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, characterized by urticaria, vegetative endocarditis, arthritis, and sometimes septicemia.

Origin of erysipelas

1350–1400; Middle English erisipila < Latin erysipelas < Greek, equivalent to erysi- (probably akin to erythrós red) + -pelas probably skin (akin to pélma sole of the foot; compare Latin pellis skin)

OTHER WORDS FROM erysipelas

er·y·si·pel·a·tous [er-uh-si-pel-uh-tuh s, eer-] /ˌɛr ə sɪˈpɛl ə təs, ˌɪər-/, adjective pseu·do·er·y·si·pel·a·tous, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for erysipelas

British Dictionary definitions for erysipelas

erysipelas
/ (ˌɛrɪˈsɪpɪləs) /

noun

an acute streptococcal infectious disease of the skin, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and purplish raised lesions, esp on the face Also called: Saint Anthony's fire

Derived forms of erysipelas

erysipelatous (ˌɛrɪsɪˈpɛlətəs), adjective

Word Origin for erysipelas

C16: from Latin, from Greek erusipelas, from Greek erusi- red + -pelas skin

Medical definitions for erysipelas

erysipelas
[ ĕr′ĭ-sĭpə-ləs, îr′- ]

n.

An acute disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by a hemolytic bacterium and marked by localized inflammation and fever. Saint Anthony's fire

Other words from erysipelas

er′y•si•pela•tous (-sĭ-pĕlə-təs) adj.