carbuncle

[ kahr-buhng-kuhl ]

noun

1. Pathology. a painful circumscribed inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, resulting in suppuration and sloughing, and having a tendency to spread somewhat like a boil, but more serious in its effects.
2. a gemstone, especially a garnet, cut with a convex back and a cabochon surface.
3. Also called Lon·don brown [luhn, -d, uh, n , broun]. a dark grayish, red-brown color.
4. Obsolete. any rounded red gem.

adjective

1. having the color carbuncle.

carbuncle

/ ˈkɑːˌbʌŋkəl; kɑːˈbʌŋkjʊlə /

noun

1. an extensive skin eruption, similar to but larger than a boil, with several openings: caused by staphylococcal infection
2. a rounded gemstone, esp a garnet cut without facets
3. a dark reddish-greyish-brown colour

Derived Forms

• carbuncular, adjective
• ˈcarˌbuncled, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbuncle¹

1150–1200; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin carbunculus kind of precious stone, tumor, literally, live coal, equivalent to carbōn- (stem of carbō ) burning charcoal + -culus -cule ¹, apparently assimilated to derivates from short-vowel stems; homunculus

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbuncle¹

C13: from Latin carbunculus diminutive of carbō coal

Example Sentences

But he had hard luck, too, for another carbuncle developed at Melbourne and kept him laid up for nearly a week.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the flash of the great carbuncle, and the stars seen through it were as if dyed in blood.

From Project Gutenberg

The sun struck it, and made the engraved carbuncle shine dully red.

From Project Gutenberg

It happened that Mre Jupillon had trouble with her leg—a carbuncle that prevented her from walking for nearly eighteen months.

From Project Gutenberg

This story of the carbuncle reminds us of Hawthorne's story on the same subject.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gemstone
• jewel