the abnormal development in a woman of male secondary sex characteristics
virilism in American English
(ˈvɪrəlˌɪzəm)
noun
Medicine
the development of secondary male sex characteristics in a woman
Word origin
< virile + -ism
virilism in American English
(ˈvɪrəˌlɪzəm)
noun
a female disorder in which there is development of secondary male sexual characteristics, as hirsutism and lowered voice, caused by various conditions affecting hormone regulation
Word origin
[1895–1900; virile + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backwind, cutback, flamenco, freewheel, neon-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)