carbuncle

(kär′buŋ′kəl)

noun

1. Archaic any of certain deep-red gems
2. a smooth, convex, deep-red garnet
a painful bacterial infection (esp. Staphylococcus aureus) deep beneath the skin, having a network of pus-filled boils

Origin: ME < OFr < L carbunculus, a little coal, gem < carbo: see carbon

Related Forms:

See carbuncle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A painful localized bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that usually has several openings through which pus is discharged.
a. A deep-red garnet, unfaceted and convex.
b. Obsolete A red precious stone.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin carbunculus, small glowing ember, carbuncle

Origin: , diminutive of carbō, carbōn-, coal; see ker-³ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: