rickets
/ˈrɪkɪts
/noun [mass noun treated as singular or plural] Medicine
A disease of children caused by vitamin D deficiency, characterized by imperfect calcification, softening, and distortion of the bones typically resulting in bow legs.To absorb calcium, the body needs adequate vitamin D. Lack of either can cause bone diseases such as rickets in children and osteoporosis in older people....
- Its founder, Joseph Pilates, was born in Dusseldorf in 1880 and despite being a rather sickly child who suffered from rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever, he lived to the age of 87.
- Exclusively breastfed infants are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and rickets.
Origin
Mid 17th century: perhaps an alteration of Greek rhakhitis (see rachitis).