Scurvy definition | Dictionary.com

scur⋅vy

[skur-vee]

noun, adjective, -vi⋅er, -vi⋅est.

–noun

1.	Pathology. a disease marked by swollen and bleeding gums, livid spots on the skin, prostration, etc., due to a diet lacking in vitamin C.

–adjective

2.	contemptible; despicable; mean: a scurvy trick.

Origin:
1555–65; scurf + -y ¹

Related forms:

scur⋅vi⋅ly, adverb

scur⋅vi⋅ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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scur·vy (skûr'vē)

n. A disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and extreme weakness.
adj. scur·vi·er, scur·vi·est
Mean; contemptible.

[From Middle English scurfy, characterized by scurf (influenced by French scorbut, scurvy), from scurf, scurf; see scurf.]
scur'vi·ly adv., scur'vi·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Scurvy

Scur"vy\, a. [Compar. Scurvier; superl. Scurviest.] [From Scurf; cf. Scurvy, n.]

1. Covered or affected with scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy. "Whatsoever man . . . be scurvy or scabbed." --lev. xxi. 18, 20.

2. Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible. "A scurvy trick." --Ld. Lytton.

That scurvy custom of taking tobacco. --Swift.

[He] spoke spoke such scurvy and provoking terms. --Shak.

Scurvy

Scur"vy\, n. [Probably from the same source as scirbute, but influenced by scurf, scurfy, scurvy, adj.; cf. D. scheurbuik scurvy, G. scharbock, LL. scorbutus. Cf. Scorbute.] (Med.) A disease characterized by livid spots, especially about the thighs and legs, due to extravasation of blood, and by spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all the mucous membranes. It is accompanied by paleness, languor, depression, and general debility. It is occasioned by confinement, innutritious food, and hard labor, but especially by lack of fresh vegetable food, or confinement for a long time to a limited range of food, which is incapable of repairing the waste of the system. It was formerly prevalent among sailors and soldiers.

Scurvy grass [Scurvy + grass; or cf. Icel. skarfak[=a]l scurvy grass.] (Bot.) A kind of cress (Cochlearia officinalis) growing along the seacoast of Northern Europe and in arctic regions. It is a remedy for the scurvy, and has proved a valuable food to arctic explorers. The name is given also to other allied species of plants.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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scurvy

c.1565, noun use of adj. scurvy (c.1425), variant of scurfy (see scurf). It took on the meaning of Du. scheurbuik, Fr. scorbut "scurvy," the disease characterized by swollen and bleeding gums, prostration, etc., perhaps from O.N. skyrbjugr, perhaps lit. "a swelling (bjugr) from drinking sour milk (skyr) on long sea voyages;" but O.E.D. has alternate etymology of M.Du. or M.L.G. origin, as "disease that lacerates the belly," from schoren "to lacerate" + M.L.G. buk, Du. buik "belly."

Main Entry: scur·vy
Pronunciation: 'sk&r-vE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural scur·vies
: a disease caused by alack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and mucous membranescalled also scorbutus

scurvy scur·vy (skûr'vē)
n.
A disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C and characterized by spongy bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and weakness.

scurvy (skûr'vē) Pronunciation Key
A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, characterized by bleeding of the gums, rupture of capillaries under the skin, loose teeth, and generalized weakness.

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