Vaccinia
/vækˈsɪn.i.ə/noun
A poxvirus, especially the virus used to produce the smallpox vaccine.
Did you know?Edward Jenner’s medical Latin phrase variolae vaccinae, meaning “cowpox,” gave rise to the modern scientific name vaccinia and ultimately to vaccine.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
vacca
“Cow; the ultimate source of the word, though the deeper origin of vacca is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vaccinus
“Of or belonging to cattle; derived from vacca, “cow.””
Late 18th Century
Medical Latin
variolae vaccinae
“Cowpox; Edward Jenner’s term for the disease observed in cattle and transmitted to humans.”
1798
English/Latin
vaccine
“Jenner’s cowpox-derived substance used to protect against smallpox, from Latin vaccinus.”
19th Century
Medical Latin
vaccinia
“The cowpox-related virus or disease associated with vaccination.”
Modern English
English
vaccinia
“The orthopoxvirus used historically as the smallpox vaccine and related laboratory strains.”