smallpox

[smawl-poks] /ˈsmɔlˌpɒks/

noun, Pathology

an acute, highly contagious, febrile disease, caused by the variola virus, and characterized by a pustular eruption that often leaves permanent pits or scars: eradicated worldwide by vaccination programs.

Origin

1510-20; small + pox

Examples from the web for smallpox

It also produced smallpox and syphilis and potato blight.
Twenty-five years ago this month, smallpox was officially eradicated.
But the hat itself carried smallpox, and it was killing them with belief.
Think back to when smallpox, diphtheria, polio etc were real scourges.
Many years later, smallpox devastated the local bands.
smallpox could be eradicated because its virus, lacking ability to reside virtually anywhere other than in humans, couldn't hide.
Infection with the virus results in a rash similar to smallpox, but less infectious.
So far, smallpox is the only other disease that has been wiped off the globe.
The vaccinal eradication of smallpox was a watershed achievement.
Big cities are late to vaccinate against smallpox.

British Dictionary definitions for smallpox

smallpox

/ˈsmɔːlˌpɒks/

noun

an acute highly contagious viral disease characterized by high fever, severe prostration, and a pinkish rash changing in form from papules to pustules, which dry up and form scabs that are cast off, leaving pitted depressions Technical name variola, related adjective variolous

Word Origin

C16: from small + pox. So called to distinguish it from the Great Pox, an archaic name for syphilis

Word Origin and History for smallpox

acute, highly contagious disease, 1510s, small pokkes, as distinguished from great pox "syphillis;" from small-pock "pustule caused by smallpox" (mid-15c.); see small (adj.) + pox. Cf. French petite vérole. Fatal in a quarter to a third of unvaccinated cases.

smallpox in Medicine

smallpox small·pox (smôl'pŏks')
n.
An acute, highly infectious, often fatal disease caused by a poxvirus and characterized by high fever and aches with subsequent widespread eruption of papules that blister, produce pus, and form scabs that leave permanent pockmarks. Also called variola.

smallpox in Science

smallpox

(smôl'pŏks')
A highly infectious and often fatal disease caused by the variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus and characterized by fever, headache, and severely inflamed skin sores that result in extensive scarring. Once a dreaded killer of children that caused the deaths of millions of Native Americans after the arrival of European settlers in the Americas, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 following a worldwide vaccination campaign. Samples of the virus have been preserved in laboratories in the United States and Russia. Also called variola. See Note at Jenner.

smallpox in Culture

smallpox definition

An acute and infectious disease caused by a virus and now almost completely eradicated. Smallpox was characterized by high fever and large sores on the body that leave scars.

Note: A surface with many blemishes is sometimes said to be “pockmarked” because it resembles the skin of a smallpox sufferer.

Note: Smallpox is the first disease of humans to be completely eradicated by a worldwide campaign of inoculation.

Note: Today, the smallpox virus exists only in laboratories.

Note: The use of smallpox is a major concern in the area of bioterrorism.