HYDROPHOBIA

rabies, hydrophobia, lyssa, madness

(noun) an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain

hydrophobia

(noun) a morbid fear of water

hydrophobia

(noun) a symptom of rabies in humans consisting of an aversion to swallowing liquids

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

hydrophobia (countable and uncountable, plural hydrophobias)

(pathology) An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself.

Synonym: hydrophoby (archaic)

(psychology, colloquial) A morbid fear of water; aquaphobia.

Usage notes

A morbid fear of water is technically called aquaphobia, so not to be confused with rabies.

Synonyms

• aquaphobia

• water-fear

• waterfright

Notes

Source: Wiktionary

Hy`dro*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. "y`dwr water + hydrophobie.] (Med.) (a) An abnormal dread of water, said to be a symptom of canine madness; hence: (b) The disease caused by a bite form, or inoculation with the saliva of, a rabid creature, of which the chief symptoms are, a sense of dryness and construction in the throat, causing difficulty in deglutition, and a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water; rabies; canine madness. [Written also hydrophoby.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition