WHITLOW

felon, whitlow

(noun) a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

whitlow (plural whitlows)

An infection under the cuticle of a fingernail or toenail.

Synonyms

• nimpingang (UK dialect, archaic)

• paronychia

• wicklow (common misspelling in some regions)

Coordinate terms

• agnail, hangnail

Proper noun

Whitlow (plural Whitlows)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Whitlow is the 4432nd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 8020 individuals. Whitlow is most common among White (73.94%) and Black/African American (20.86%) individuals.

Source: Wiktionary


Whit"low, n. Etym: [Prov. E. whickflaw, for quickflaw, i. e., a flaw or sore at the quick; cf. Icel. kvika the quick under the nail or under a horse's hoof. See Quick, a., and Flaw.]

1. (Med.)

Definition: An inflammation of the fingers or toes, generally of the last phalanx, terminating usually in suppuration. The inflammation may occupy any seat between the skin and the bone, but is usually applied to a felon or inflammation of the periosteal structures of the bone.

2. (Far.)

Definition: An inflammatory disease of the feet. It occurs round the hoof, where an acrid matter is collected. Whitlow grass (Bot.), name given to several inconspicuous herbs, which were thought to be a cure for the whitlow, as Saxifraga tridactylites, Draba verna, and several species of Paronychia.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 February 2025

CURE

(verb) make (substances) hard and improve their usability; “cure resin”; “cure cement”; “cure soap”


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