n.
Pronunciation: ' t ī -f ə s
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek typhos fever; akin to Greek typhein to smoke ― more at DEAF
Date: 1785
: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: as a : a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one ( Rickettsia prowazekii ) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash b : MURINE TYPHUS c : SCRUB TYPHUS