Typhus
/ˈtaɪ.fəs/noun
A group of infectious diseases caused by bacteria transmitted mainly by lice, fleas, or mites.
Did you know?Ancient Greek physicians used typhos for fever-induced stupor or delirium before it became the name of a specific infectious disease.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰewh₂-
“To smoke, rise as vapor, or become hazy; a reconstructed root associated with smoke and mist.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tûphos (τῦφος)
“Smoke, vapor, or conceit; something that clouds or inflates the mind.”
Classical Greek
Greek
týphos (τύφος)
“Stupor, delirium, or a feverish state of mental clouding.”
Late Antiquity
Greek medical usage
typhos
“A medical term for fever accompanied by profound lethargy or delirium.”
16th–17th Century
Latin
typhus
“A medical borrowing from Greek referring to a febrile, delirious condition.”
18th Century
English
typhus
“The name of the infectious disease group recognized in English medical writing.”