shingles

noun

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

plural in form but singular in construction

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves that is associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains and is caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

called also herpes zoster, zoster

Word History

Etymology

Middle English schingles, by folk etymology from Medieval Latin cingulus, from Latin cingulum girdle — more at cingulum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shingles

• ingles
• jingles
• mingles
• singles
• tingles

Medical Definition

shingles

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pain and caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

called also herpes zoster, zona, zoster