dropsy

noun

(formerly) edema.

an infectious disease of fishes, characterized by a swollen, spongelike body and protruding scales, caused by a variety of the bacterium Pseudomonas punctata.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English drop(e)sie, aphetic variant of ydropesie < Old French < Medieval Latin (h)ydrōpisīa, equivalent to Latin hydrōpis(is) (< Greek hydrōpi-, stem of hýdrōps dropsy (hydr- hydr- + -ōpsi- < ?) + -sis -sis) + -ia -y³

Related forms

drop·sied

[drop-seed] , adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10

Dropsy is always a great word to know.

So is slumgullion. Does it mean:

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

dropsy (ˈdrɒpsɪ)

—n
1.	pathol a condition characterized by an accumulation of watery fluid in the tissues or in a body cavity
2.	slang a tip or bribe

[C13: shortened from ydropesie, from Latin hydrōpisis, from Greek hudrōps, from hudōr water]

dropsical

—*adj*

'dropsied

—*adj*

'dropsically

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

dropsy

late 13c., aphetic of M.E. ydropsy, from O.Fr. idropsie,, from L. hydropsis, from Gk. hydrops (gen. hydropos) "dropsy," from hydor "water" (see water (n.1)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

dropsy drop·sy (drŏp'sē)
n.
Edema. No longer in technical use.

Easton

Bible Dictionary