rickets

[rik-its] /ˈrɪk ɪts/
noun, Pathology
1.
a disease of childhood, characterized by softening of the bones as a result of inadequate intake of vitamin D and insufficient exposure to sunlight, also associated with impaired calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
Origin
1635-45; origin uncertain
Examples from the web for rickets
  • It's enough to prevent rickets, but that's about it.
British Dictionary definitions for rickets

rickets

/ˈrɪkɪts/
noun
1.
(functioning as singular or pl) (pathol) a disease mainly of children, characterized by softening of developing bone, and hence bow legs, malnutrition, and enlargement of the liver and spleen, caused by a deficiency of vitamin D
Word Origin
C17: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for rickets
n.

disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, 1630s, of uncertain origin. Originally a local name for the disease in Dorset and Somerset, England. Some derive it from a Dorset word, rucket "to breathe with difficulty," but the sense connection is difficult. The Modern Latin name for the disease, rachitis, comes from Greek rhakhis "spine" (see rachitic), but this was chosen by English physician Daniel Whistler (1619-1684) for resemblance to rickets.

rickets in Medicine

rickets rick·ets (rĭk'ĭts)
n.
A deficiency disease resulting from a lack of vitamin D or calcium and from insufficient exposure to sunlight, characterized by defective bone growth and occurring chiefly in children. Also called infantile osteomalacia, juvenile osteomalacia, rachitis.

rickets in Science
rickets
  (rĭk'ĭts)   
A bone disease seen mostly in children, caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, usually as a result of inadequate dietary intake or lack of exposure to sunlight. This deficiency causes decreased calcium absorption from the intestine and abnormalities in formation and mineralization of skeletal bone, resulting in defective bone growth and deformity.