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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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