scarlet fevern.
/ˌskɑːlᵻt ˈfiːvə/, U.S. /ˌskɑrlət ˈfivər/ 1.
a. Originally: any of various fevers accompanied by a red rash; cf. purple fever n. In later use: spec. an infectious disease characterized by a distinctive scarlet rash, originally punctate and later usually confluent, which begins on the trunk and neck and spreads to the face and extremities, is followed by peeling of the skin, and is typically associated with severe pharyngitis or tonsillitis. Also called scarlatina.Scarlet fever is now known to be a complication of streptococcal infection of the throat or other site in the body, occurring when group A streptococci are infected with bacteriophage carrying the gene for a toxin (erythrogenic toxin) which causes the rash.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > fever > [noun] > scarlatina
scarlet fevera1651
scarlatina1771
rosalia1780
scarlatinine1842
scarlatinoid1885
milk scarlatina1887
a1651 E. Grey Choice Man. (1653) 175 The Countesse of Kents Pouder, good against all malignant and pestilent, Diseases, French Pox, Small Pox, Measels, Plague, Pestilence, malignant or scarlet Fevers, good against Melancholy, dejection of Spirits.
1676 J. Cooke Mellificium Chirurg. (ed. 3) 740 The first and last of these, were in Warwick at the writing hereof. The last [sc. Rossalia] going under the name of the Scarlet Fever.
1696 J. Pechey tr. T. Sydenham Whole Wks. 216 The Scarlet Fever, though it may happen at any time, yet it most commonly comes at the latter end of Summer; at which time it seized whole Families, but especially Children.
1722 D. Turner Art of Surg. I. 48 Thus we see daily the dire Effects of the Small Pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, and other inflammatory Disorders of the Blood, falling heavy upon the Lungs, and laying the Foundation of Pulmonary Phthisis.
1776 A. Adams Let. 10 Mar. in M. A. Hogan & C. J. Taylor My Dearest Friend (2007) 102 Tommy has been very sick with what is call'd the Scarlet or purple fever, but has got about again.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) i. 2 Poor Miss Birch died of the scarlet fever.
1874 H. C. Wood Treat. Therapeutics 207 It lacks the punctations of the rash of scarlet fever.
1919 M. Gyte Diary 21 Nov. (1999) 241 We heard that Clarice Bramwell had got the scarlet fever.
1958 Nursing (St. John Ambulance Assoc.) xiii. 172 Scarlet fever... The tongue is furred and becomes covered with raised red spots, and is known as a strawberry tongue.
2004 J. Playfair Living with Germs (2007) ii. 28 Streptococci are..a fairly common cause of throat infections, which may go on to tonsillitis, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, or heart or kidney disease.
b. An instance or attack of this disease. Also figurative. Now rare.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > fever > [noun] > scarlatina > attack of
scarlet fever1695
1695 J. Pechey Store-house Physical Pract. cxxii. 496 The third day, unless the small Pox, Measles or a Scarlet Fever appear, I order a Child of one year old to be purged in the following manner.
1749 S. Fielding Governess 36 My dear Mamma was taken ill of a Scarlet-Fever.
1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. i He had rather see his daughter in a scarlet fever than in the arms of a soldier.
1839 Lady Lytton Cheveley I. xvii. 222 Mrs. Tymmons..rejoiced in a form of infinite rotundity, with a face like a full moon in a scarlet fever.
1872 H. P. Liddon Some Elements Relig. iv. 143 [He] will be..as well as another who may have happily survived a scarlet fever.
1916 E. B. Cragin Obstetrics 477 The rational view seems to be..that a scarlet fever complicating pregnancy, if of a very severe type,..may cause an abortion or premature labor.
1976 A. McGlashan Gravity & Levity xiv. 116 A hideous rash of protest and counter-protest is flaring like a Scarlet Fever across the suffering face of the world.
2. humorous. A passion for soldiers in women or girls; attraction to men in red uniforms. Now historical.
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the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > infatuation > for soldiers
scarlet fever1846
1846 J. Grant Romance of War III. i. 19 Louis..appeared..in the uniform of the Gordon Highlanders; and..all the young ladies were quite in love with him, fairly touched with the scarlet fever.
1862 B. Hemyng in H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) Extra vol. 235/1 Nurse-maids..are always ready to succumb to the ‘scarlet fever’. A red coat is all powerful with this class.
1911 B. Swift Old Dance Master xi. 166 Them red coats!.. When a gal loves a sodger we says she 's got scarlet fever.
2009 R. Melikan Counterfeit Guest 42 ‘Few women are proof against a red coat’, agreed Miss Marchmont with a hint of a smile. ‘Scarlet fever’, she added.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1651