-gəlz noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: from plural of obsolete strangle act of strangling, from Middle English, from stranglen to strangle
: an infectious febrile disease of horses and other equines that is caused by a bacterium ( Streptococcus equi ), is characterized by inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes and a tendency to swelling and suppuration of the intermaxillary and cervical lymph nodes, usually affects young animals, has a low mortality rate, and confers subsequent immunity after one attack — called also colt distemper ; compare bastard strangles