SCURVY


Meaning of SCURVY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ̈ɪˈskə:vɪ ]

n. & adj. --n. a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by swollen bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds, esp. formerly affecting sailors. --adj. (scurvier, scurviest) paltry, low, mean, dishonourable, contemptible. øscurvy grass any cresslike seaside plant of the genus Cochlearia, orig. taken as a cure for scurvy. øøscurvied adj. scurvily adv. [SCURF + -Y(1): noun sense by assoc. with F scorbut (cf. SCORBUTIC)]

English main colloquial, spoken dictionary.      Английский основной разговорный словарь.