purple fever
/ˌpəːpl ˈfiːvə/Medicine. Now historical
noun
Any of various infectious diseases accompanied by a dark red or purplish, often petechial, rash.
- Typhus, scarlet fever, and meningococcaemia are probably included among these diseases..
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in John Chamberlain (1553–1628), letter writer. From purple + fever.