CARBUNCLE

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French charbucle, carbuncule, from Latin carbunculus small coal, ~, diminutive of carbon-, carbo charcoal, ember Date: 13th century 1. any of several red precious stones, the garnet cut cabochon, a painful local purulent inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues with multiple openings for the discharge of pus and usually necrosis and sloughing of dead tissue, ~d adjective carbuncular adjective