rinderpest

noun rin·der·pest \ ˈrin-dər-ˌpest \

Definition of rinderpest

: an acute infectious disease of ruminant mammals (such as cattle) that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Rinderpest virus) and that is marked by fever, diarrhea, and inflammation of mucous membranes and by high mortality in epidemics

Recent Examples of rinderpest from the Web

It was thought that a local outbreak of a disease called rinderpest had wiped out the zebra and wildebeest that the lions normally preyed on, making the cats desperate enough to prey on humans, who the lions then consumed entirely.

— brian switek, Smithsonian, "Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo Did Indeed Eat People, Teeth Reveal," 19 Apr. 2017
It was thought that a local outbreak of a disease called rinderpest had wiped out the zebra and wildebeest that the lions normally preyed on, making the cats desperate enough to prey on humans, who the lions then consumed entirely.

— brian switek, Smithsonian, "Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo Did Indeed Eat People, Teeth Reveal," 19 Apr. 2017
Mankind has successfully managed to eradicate only two diseases to date: smallpox in humans followed by the deadly cattle plague, rinderpest.

— dr. rené carlson, latimes.com, "We eradicated cattle plague. Now let’s set our sights on rabies," 25 May 2017
Only two diseases — smallpox and rinderpest, a veterinary disease — have ever been eradicated from the earth, and in both of them the last cases were found in Africa.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "2 Polio Paralysis Cases in Nigeria Set Back Eradication Effort," 11 Aug. 2016
Scientists tell Gill that ovine rinderpest, a disease also known as sheep plague, Peste des Petits Ruminants or PPR, is to blame.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "A Quarter of the World’s Saiga Antelope Are Dead," 9 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rinderpest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rinderpest

German, from Rinder, plural, cattle + Pest pestilence

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1865

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

rinderpest

noun rin·der·pest \ ˈrin-dər-ˌpest \

medical Definition of rinderpest

: an acute infectious usually fatal disease of ruminant animals (as cattle) that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Rinderpest virus), is marked by fever, diarrhea, and inflammation of mucous membranes, and has been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination — called also cattle plague