Furuncle
/ˈfjʊr.ʌŋ.kəl/noun
A painful, pus-filled infection of a hair follicle, commonly called a boil.
Did you know?Latin furunculus was a diminutive of fur, “thief,” and the metaphor may reflect the idea that a boil steals nourishment from the surrounding tissue; the same Latin form was also used for a plant shoot or sucker.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“To carry, bear, or carry away—the reconstructed root associated with Latin ferre and the “thief” sense behind fur.”
Classical Latin
Latin
fur
“A thief; literally someone who carries something away.”
Classical Latin
Latin
furunculus
“A little thief; also a small boil and, in botanical usage, a shoot or sucker.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
furunculus
“A boil or furuncle, continuing the medical sense.”
14th Century
English
furuncle
“A boil or inflammatory swelling of the skin.”
Modern English
English
furuncle
“A localized, pus-forming infection of a hair follicle.”