a disease of the skeletal system, chiefly of children, resulting from absence of the normal effect of vitamin D in depositing calcium salts in the bone, and characterized by a softening and, often, bending of the bones: usually caused by a lack of vitamin D and insufficient exposure to sunlight
Origin:
altered < ? Gr rhachitis, rachitis
See rickets in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
A deficiency disease resulting from a lack of vitamin D or calcium and from insufficient exposure to sunlight, characterized by defective bone growth and occurring chiefly in children. Also called rachitis.