Scurvy Definition

skûrvē
scurvier, scurviest
noun
A disease resulting from a deficiency of ascorbic acid in the body, characterized by weakness, anemia, spongy gums, bleeding from the mucous membranes, etc.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adjective
scurviest, scurvier
Webster's New World
Low; mean; vile; contemptible.
Webster's New World
Covered or affected with scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Scurvy

Noun

Singular:
scurvy
Plural:
scurvies

Adjective

Base Form:
scurvy
Comparative:
scurvier
Superlative:
scurviest

Origin of Scurvy

  • Noun usage from the adjective scurvy influenced by or a variant of scurfy. Took on meaning of Dutch scheurbuik, French scorbut (“scurvy"), possibly from Old Norse skyrbjúgr, skyr (“sour milk") + bjúgr (“swelling, tumour") whence the Icelandic skyrbjúgur (“scurvy"). Compare German scharbock, Late Latin scorbutus.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English scurfy characterized by scurf (influenced by French scorbut scurvy) from scurf scurf scurf

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Alternate etymology is, from Middle Dutch, from Middle Low German.

    From Wiktionary

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