/ ˈhɜːpiːz; NAmE ˈhɜːrp-/ noun
[ U ] one of a group of infectious diseases, caused by a virus, that cause painful spots on the skin, especially on the face and sexual organs
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (originally used also of other skin conditions): via Latin from Greek herpēs shingles, literally creeping , from herpein to creep.