/yawz/ , n. ( used with a singular v. ) Pathol.
an infectious, nonvenereal tropical disease, primarily of children, characterized by raspberrylike eruptions of the skin and caused by a spirochete, Treponema pertenue, that is closely related to the agent of syphilis. Also called frambesia, pian . Cf. mother yaw .
[ 1670-80; 3 ]