shingles

[ shing-guhlz ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, especially by reactivated virus in an older person, characterized by skin eruptions and pain along the course of involved sensory nerves.

shingles

/ ˈʃɪŋɡəlz /

noun

1. functioning as singular an acute viral disease affecting the ganglia of certain nerves, characterized by inflammation, pain, and skin eruptions along the course of the affected nerve Technical namesherpes zosterzoster

shingles

/ shĭng′gəlz /

1. See under herpes

Word History and Origins

Origin of shingles¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin cingulum, in Latin: “girdle,” from cingere “to gird, cinch” ( cincture ); translation of Greek zṓnē “belt” or zōstḗr “girdle”; zone, zoster

Word History and Origins

Origin of shingles¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cingulum girdle, rendering Greek zōnē zone

Example Sentences

People can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other jabs such as those for Covid and shingles.

From BBC

The Pharmacy First service, launched in January in England, extended the range of services chemists can provide, including treatment of sinusitis, earache and shingles.

From BBC

“To give you an idea of the intensity, my first week that I actually had off, where it was just Margaret working, I got shingles,” Moore says, almost proudly, in her familiar deep rasp.

From Los Angeles Times

In the UK, a free shingles vaccine is available to people who turn 65, those aged between 70 and 79, and people aged 50 and over who have a severely weakened immune system.

From BBC

"There was a period when I had a lot of difficulty with anxiety and stress. I caught shingles nearly a year ago due to stress issues I had either with money or housing."

From BBC