Cowpox
/ˈkaʊ.pɒks/noun
A viral disease of cattle that can occasionally infect humans and historically provided the basis for smallpox vaccination.
Did you know?Edward Jenner’s 1796 experiments with cowpox inspired the word vaccination, from Latin vacca, meaning “cow.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷōus
“Cattle or cow; the ancient root behind several words for cattle.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*kūz
“Cow; the Germanic descendant of the Indo-European cattle word.”
Old English
Old English
cū
“A cow or female bovine.”
Old English
Old English
poc
“A pustule, swelling, or pock; related to the verb meaning “to prick” or “pierce.””
Middle English
English
pokkes
“Pocks or pustules; the plural form that developed into modern “pox.””
18th Century
English
cowpox
“The disease affecting cows, recorded in medical discussions before Jenner’s vaccination work.”
Modern English
English
cowpox
“A zoonotic viral disease of cattle, historically used to produce immunity to smallpox.”