pox Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
lues venerea; syph; lues; syphilis.
noun a contagious disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pock marks

For pocks, OE. pokkes. See Pock. It is plural in form but is used as a singular.

(Med.) Strictly, a disease by pustules or eruptions of any kind, but chiefly or wholly restricted to three or four diseases, -- the smallpox, the chicken pox, and the vaccine and the venereal diseases. ✍ Pox, when used without an epithet, as in imprecations, formerly signified smallpox; but it now signifies syphilis.

imperfect & past participle Poxed ; present participle & verbal noun Poxing