paronychia

American  

[par-uh-nik-ee-uh] / ˌpær əˈnɪk i ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the folds of skin bordering a nail of a finger or toe, usually characterized by infection and pus formation; felon.

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Other Word Forms

• paronychial adjective

Etymology

Origin of paronychia

1590–1600; < Latin parōnychia < Greek parōnychía whitlow, equivalent to par- par- + onych- (stem of ónyx ) claw, nail + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

He was diagnosed with a severe case of paronychia, or the infection of the skin around the nail, and was told he required emergency surgery to remove the affected flesh.

From Fox News • Jan. 30, 2020

The perionychium is the site of hangnails, ingrown nails, and an infection of the skin called paronychia.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Long-term, habitual nail nibblers can also suffer from a type of infection called paronychia, Scher says.

From Time • Jul. 2, 2014

Hence light is as intolerable in this kind of ophthalmia, as pressure is to the finger in the paronychia.

From Zoonomia, Vol. I Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

M. M. In the common paronychia a poultice is generally sufficient.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus