measles

mea·sles

noun pl but singular or pl in constr \ˈmē-zəlz\

Definition of MEASLES

1

a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles virus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots —called also rubeola b : any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

2

[Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable] : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

Origin of MEASLES

Middle English meseles, plural of mesel measles, spot characteristic of measles; akin to Middle Dutch masel spot characteristic of measles

First Known Use: 14th century