PHOSSY JAW


Meaning of PHOSSY JAW in English

[ 'fɒsi ]

■ noun historical, informal gangrene of the jawbone caused by phosphorus poisoning.

Origin

C19: phossy by abbrev. of phosphorus necrosis , denoting gangrene of the jaw.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.