an acute communicable disease, usually of childhood, caused by a paramyxovirus and characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, esp. the parotid, and, in adults, often complicated by inflammation of the testes, ovaries, etc.
Origin:
pl. of obs. mump, a grimace: prob. from patient's appearance
See mumps in American Heritage Dictionary 4
plural noun(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
An acute, inflammatory, contagious disease caused by a paramyxovirus and characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes. This disease, mainly affecting children, can be prevented by vaccination.
Origin:
Origin: Perhaps from pl. of dialectal mump, grimace