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carbuncle Definition

car·bun·cle (kär′buŋ′kəl)

noun

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

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

carbuncle Related Forms
car·bun′·cu·lar (-kyo̵̅o̅ lər) adjective
carbuncle Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • boil: Staphylococci - impetigo, ecthyma, boils, carbuncles and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.
  • call: However diamonds are usually thought of as transparent, not red, and they have never been called carbuncles.

Adjective modifier

  • monstrous: He added: " Anyone of taste will know that the Harley is a monstrous carbuncle to the Triumph's beauty spot, " .

Preposition: on

  • face: The proposed REGENERATION would just create another carbuncle on the face of Cornwall.
carbuncle Quotes

What is proposed is like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.

—Charles, Prince of Wales