noun
pox
PAHKS/pɑːks/
An illness marked by erupting sores on the skin.
The illustrated arm shows clustered skin eruptions associated with pox.
Etymology
The ancestor pocc named an individual pustule or blister. Its plural came to name a disease characterized by those sores, making the visible symptoms the name of the illness.
In context
it at that time created large ulcerated lesions all over the body and it was known as the great pox
More examples
- Pox causes raised sores on the animal's skin.
- The old journal describes an outbreak of pox.
- The farmer separates birds that show symptoms of pox.
Forms
pox · poxes
Similar words
- smallpox
- Names a specific severe viral disease, not eruptive diseases generally.
- chickenpox
- Names a specific contagious disease with an itchy, blistering rash.