Main Entry: ery·sip·e·las

Pronunciation: \ˌer-ə-ˈsi-p(ə-)ləs, ˌir-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English erisipila, from Latin erysipelas, from Greek, from erysi- (probably akin to Greek erythros red) + -pelas (probably akin to Latin pellis skin) — more at red, fell

Date: 14th century

: an acute febrile disease associated with intense edematous local inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues caused by a hemolytic streptococcus