ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷- noun
: either of two febrile diseases of man commonly transmitted by the bite of a rat or other animal vector:
a. : a septicemia marked by irregular relapsing fever, rashes, muscular pain and arthritis, and great weakness and caused by a microorganism ( Streptobacillus moniliformis or Haverhillia multiformis ) that is included among the typical bacteria or regarded as an actinomycete
b. : a disease that is marked by sharp elevation of temperature, swelling of lymph glands, eruption, recurrent inflammation of the bite wound, and muscular pains in the part where the bite wound occurred and that is caused by a bacterium ( Spirillum minus ) — called also sodoku