whitlow

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a painful infection or inflammation near the end of a finger or toe, especially around or beneath the nail

   A whitlow on her thumb became swollen and painful overnight.

From late Middle English whitflaw, later altered to whitlow. The first element may come from Middle Dutch vijt or Low German fit, 'abscess,' ultimately from Latin ficus, 'fig-shaped ulcer,' though it was also influenced by English white. The second element is flaw.

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