Erysipelas
/ˌer.ɪˈsɪp.ələs/noun
A painful bacterial skin infection marked by red, swollen, sharply defined patches.
Did you know?Erysipelas comes through Latin from Greek and was long used for a vivid red skin inflammation, making it one of those medical words whose name is basically a description of the visible curse.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
erysípelas (ἐρυσίπελας)
“a red skin disease or eruption”
Classical Latin
Latin
erysipelas
“a skin inflammation marked by redness”
Late Latin
Latin
erysipelas
“the same medical term, retained in learned usage”
Middle English
English
erysipelas
“a severe red, inflammatory skin disease”
Modern English
English
erysipelas
“an acute bacterial infection of the skin and underlying tissue”