- German measles
- Measles Mea"sles, n.; pl. in form, but used as singular in
senses 1, 2, & 3. [D. mazelen; akin to G. masern, pl., and E.
mazer, and orig. meaning, little spots. See {Mazer}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Med.) A contagious viral febrile disorder commencing with
catarrhal symptoms, and marked by the appearance on the
third day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots,
which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised
above the surface, and after the fourth day of the
eruption gradually decline; rubeola. It is a common
childhood disease.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Measles commences with the ordinary symptoms of fever. --Am. Cyc. [1913 Webster]
2. (Veter. Med.) A disease of cattle and swine in which the flesh is filled with the embryos of different varieties of the tapeworm. [1913 Webster]
3. A disease of trees. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
4. pl. (Zo["o]l.) The larv[ae] of any tapeworm ({T[ae]nia}) in the cysticerus stage, when contained in meat. Called also {bladder worms}. [1913 Webster]
{German measles} A mild contagious viral disease, which may cause birth defects if contracted by a pregnant woman during early pregnancy; also called {rubella}. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.