milk fever

noun

1

: a febrile disorder following childbirth

2

: a disease of fresh cows, sheep, or goats that is caused by excessive drain on the body mineral reserves during the establishment of the milk flow

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

milk fever

noun

1

: a febrile disorder following childbirth

2

: a disease of newly lactating cows, sheep, or goats that is caused by excessive drain on the body mineral reserves during the establishment of the milk flow

called also parturient apoplexy, parturient paresis

compare grass tetany