dysentery

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an intestinal infection causing severe diarrhea, often with blood or mucus, abdominal pain, and fever

   Contaminated water caused an outbreak of dysentery in the crowded camp.

From Middle English dissenterie, through Old French and Latin dysenteria from Greek dusenteria, built from dus- ("bad, difficult") + entera ("bowels"). The historical English name bloody flux refers to a characteristic severe form.

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