noun
felon
A painful infection in the fleshy pad of a fingertip.
The doctor diagnoses a felon in the swollen fingertip.
Etymology
The infection’s name uses an older word associated with wickedness or severity. It characterizes the painful condition as a malignant or troublesome affliction.
More examples
- The textbook describes a painful felon.
- The infection was identified as a felon.
- The article distinguishes a felon from other finger infections.
Forms
felon · felons
Similar words
- abscess
- Abscess is the broader infection-related collection of pus.
- whitlow
- Whitlow can name other infections around the fingertip.