n.
Pronunciation: ' pär-v ō - ˌ v ī -r ə s
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin parv us small (akin to Greek pauros small, paid-, pais child) + New Latin -o- + virus ― more at FEW
Date: 1965
1 : any of a family ( Parvoviridae, especially genus Parvovirus ) of small single-stranded DNA viruses pathogenic for vertebrates
2 : a highly contagious febrile disease of dogs that is caused by a parvovirus (species Canine parvovirus of the genus Parvovirus ) related to the parvovirus causing panleukopenia in cats and that is marked by loss of appetite, lethargy, often bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and sometimes death