pox (redirected from poxes)

pox  (pks)

n.

1. A disease such as chickenpox or smallpox, characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pockmarks.

2. Syphilis.

3. Archaic Misfortune and calamity.

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[Alteration of pocks, from Middle English, pl. of pocke, pokke; see pock.]

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pox

Noun

1. a disease in which pus-filled blisters or pimples form on the skin

2. the pox Informal syphilis [changed from pocks, plural of pock]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	pox - a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta) lues, lues venerea, syph, syphilis sexually transmitted disease, social disease, STD, VD, venereal disease, venereal infection, Venus's curse, Cupid's disease, Cupid's itch, dose - a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact primary syphilis - the first stage; characterized by a chancre at the site of infection secondary syphilis - the second stage; characterized by eruptions of the skin and mucous membrane tertiary syphilis - the third stage; characterized by involvement of internal organs especially the brain and spinal cord as well as the heart and liver neurosyphilis - syphilis of the central nervous system chancre - a small hard painless nodule at the site of entry of a pathogen (as syphilis)
	2.	pox - a contagious disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pock marks contagion, contagious disease - any disease easily transmitted by contact smallpox, variola, variola major - a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars chickenpox, varicella - an acute contagious disease caused by herpes varicella zoster virus; causes a rash of vesicles on the face and body cowpox, vaccinia - a viral disease of cattle causing a mild skin disease affecting the udder; formerly used to inoculate humans against smallpox