German measles

noun

, Pathology.

1. rubella.

German measles

noun

1. functioning as singular a nontechnical name for rubella

German measles

/ jûr′mən /

1. An infectious disease caused by the rubella virus of the genus Rubivirus, characterized by mild fever and skin rash. German measles can cause congenital defects if a woman is exposed during early pregnancy.
2. Also called rubella

German measles

1. An acute and contagious disease , caused by a virus , producing symptoms milder than those usually associated with measles .

Notes

German measles can cause severe congenital defects in the developing embryo or fetus of a woman who contracts the disease in her first three months of pregnancy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of German measles¹

First recorded in 1840–50