noun
bubo
BYOO-boh/ˈbjuːbəʊ/
A swollen, inflamed lymph node, especially in plague.
A swollen bubo raises the inflamed skin on the neck.
Etymology
Greek boubon named both the groin and a swelling there. The medical term preserves the swelling sense, referring to an inflamed lymph node rather than the body region itself.
In context
The site of the bubo varies, according to the location of the infective bite.
More examples
- The physician recorded the size of the painful bubo.
- Historical accounts of plague often mention buboes.
- A bubo is an inflamed lymph node, rather than a skin blister.
Forms
bubo · buboes
bubonic adjective — Characterized by swollen lymph nodes called buboes.
Similar words
- abscess
- A collection of pus, which is not necessarily an enlarged lymph node.