milk sickness

noun

1
: an acute disease characterized by weakness, vomiting, and constipation and caused by eating dairy products or meat from cattle poisoned by various plants
2

Examples of milk sickness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In DuBois County, the majority of recorded deaths in the early 1800s came from milk sickness. Will McCarthy, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of milk sickness was in 1823

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Milk sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milk%20sickness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

milk sickness

noun
: an acute disease characterized by weakness, vomiting, and constipation and caused by eating dairy products or meat from cattle affected with trembles

More from Merriam-Webster on milk sickness

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!