chickenpox

(-päks′)

noun

an acute, contagious viral disease, usually of young children, characterized by fever and eruptions; varicella

See chickenpox in American Heritage Dictionary 4

or chicken pox

noun
An acute contagious disease, primarily of children, that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and characterized by skin eruptions, slight fever, and malaise. Also called varicella.

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps in allusion to the mildness of the disease as contrasted with smallpox

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