scurvy
UK /ˈskɜːvi/ · US /ˈskɜɹvi/ adjective, noun
Also a form of scurfy
Forms scurvier scurviest scurvies
- adjective Affected or covered with scurf (“skin disease causing flakes of skin to fall off”) or scabs; scurfy, scabby; also, of or relating to a skin disease causing scurf or to scurvy (noun sense 1).
- adjective (by extension) Of growths on plants: resembling scurf; scurfy.
- adjective Of a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low. “a scurvy knave a scurvy trick”
- adjective Of the way someone is treated: poor, shabby.
- noun (uncountable, pathology) A disease caused by insufficient intake of vitamin C, leading to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and from almost all mucous membranes; (countable, obsolete) an occurrence of this disease.
- noun (countable, figurative, derogatory) A contemptible or despicable person.
- noun (uncountable, by extension, veterinary medicine, obsolete) A cattle disease, perhaps affecting the skin.
Synonyms
roynish scabrous reef scabby scabrate scabrid scald scalled miserable paltry shabby abject filthy base beggarly blameworthy carrion cheap choical contemptible scorbutus low low-down scummy
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English scurvi, scurvy, variants of scurfi (“having scurf, scabby”), from scurf (“skin disease causing scabs or scales; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease, etc.”) + -i (suffix forming adjectives). Scurf is derived from Old English scurf, from Proto-Germanic *skurf- (“to gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut off, sever; to divide, separate”). By surface analysis, scurf (“skin disease; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease; crust-like formations on the skin”) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjectives).
The noun is derived from the adjective. It was used to translate the similar-sounding Dutch scheurbuik, French scorbut, Middle Low German schorbūk (“scurvy (disease)”), etc.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Covered or affected with scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy. "Whatsoever man . . . be scurvy or scabbed." lev. xxi. 18, 20.
- adjective Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible. "A scurvy trick." Ld.
- noun A disease characterized by livid spots, especially about the thighs and legs, due to extravasation of blood, and by spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all the mucous membranes. It is accompanied by paleness, languor, depression, and general debility. It is occasioned by confinement, innutritious food, and hard labor, but especially by lack of fresh vegetable food, or confinement for a long time to a limited range of food, which is incapable of repairing the waste of the system. It was formerly prevalent among sailors and soldiers. Scurvy grass Etym: [Scurvy + grass; or cf. Icel. skarfakal s
Etymology [From Scurf; cf. Scurvy, n.]
Etymology [Probably from the same source as scirbute, but influenced by scurf, scurfy, scurvy, adj.; cf. D. scheurbuik scurvy, G. scharbock, LL. scorbutus. Cf. Scorbute.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “scurvy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details