strangles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction stran·gles \ ˈstraŋ-gəlz \

Definition of strangles

: an infectious febrile disease of horses caused by a streptococcus (Streptococcus equi) and marked especially by inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes of the respiratory tract

Origin and Etymology of strangles

plural of obsolete strangle act of strangling

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1706

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

strangles

noun plural but singular or plural in construction stran·gles \ -gəlz \

medical Definition of strangles

: an infectious febrile disease of horses and other equines that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Streptococcus (S. equi), is characterized by inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes and a tendency to swelling and suppuration of the intermaxillary and cervical lymph nodes, usually affects young animals, has a low mortality rate, and confers subsequent immunity after one attack