ˈmēzəlz noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: Middle English meseles, plural of mesel measles, spot characteristic of measles, alteration (influenced by mesel leper) of masel; akin to Middle Dutch masel spot characteristic of measles and probably to Old High German masar gnarled excrescence on a tree — more at mazer , mesel
1.
a. : an acute contagious viral disease commencing with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane and marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline
b. : any of various other eruptive diseases (as rubella)
2.
[from obsolete English meazel, adjective, instead with larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues, from Middle English mesel, literally, leprous, from Old French mesel, adjective, leprous & mesel, n., leper — more at mesel ]
: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues ; specifically : infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize man — see measle
3. : a disease of apple and pear trees that is of unknown cause and is characterized by roughened bark with swellings or pustules resembling pimples