— dropsied /drop"seed/ , adj.
/drop"see/ , n.
1. (formerly) edema.
2. an infectious disease of fishes, characterized by a swollen, spongelike body and protruding scales, caused by a variety of the bacterium Pseudomonas punctata.
[ 1250-1300; ME drop ( e ) sie, aph. var. of ydropesie h ) ydropisia, equiv. to L hydropis ( is ) ( hydropi-, s. of hýdrops dropsy ( hydr- HYDR- + -opsi- -sis -SIS) + -ia -Y 3 ]