"skin disease of animals," early 15c., from Old French manjue "the itch," also "hunger, appetite; itching, longing," literally "the eating," verbal noun from a collateral form of Old French mangier "to eat" (Modern French manger) "to eat," from Late Latin manducare "to chew, eat," from manducus "glutton," from Latin mandere "to chew" (see mandible).
mange (mānj)
n.
Any of several chronic skin diseases of mammals caused by parasitic mites and characterized by skin lesions, itching, and loss of hair.
skin disease of animals caused by mite infestations, characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening of the skin, and hair loss. The most severe form of mange is caused by varieties of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which also causes human scabies. Some form of mange is known in all domestic animals, although many varieties of mange mites infest only one species; they are transmitted between animals by direct contact and by objects that have been in contact with infested animals. Most forms of mange are treatable.