typhus Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun rickettsial disease transmitted by body lice and characterized by skin rash and high fever
typhus fever.

NL., fr. Gr. smoke, cloud, stupor arising from fever; akin to to smoke, Skr. dhpa smoke.

(Med.) A contagious continued fever lasting from two to three weeks, attended with great prostration and cerebral disorder, and marked by a copious eruption of red spots upon the body. Also called jail fever, famine fever, putrid fever, spottled fever, etc. See Jail fever, under Jail. caused by various species of Rickettsia