erysipelas

noun

ery·​sip·​e·​las ˌer-ə-ˈsi-p(ə-)ləs 

ˌir-

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

Examples of erysipelas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On two consecutive occasions, the erysipelas infection killed the patients. — Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2016

Word History

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for erysipelas

• bellas
• melas
• novellas
• umbrellas

Medical Definition

erysipelas

noun

er·​y·​sip·​e·​las ˌer-ə-ˈsip-(ə-)ləs, ˌir- 

1

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

2

: swine erysipelas

—used especially when the disease affects hosts other than swine