Saint Anthony's fire

noun

, Pathology.

1. any of certain skin conditions that are of an inflammatory or gangrenous nature, as erysipelas, hospital gangrene, or ergotism.

Saint Anthony's fire

noun

1. pathol another name for ergotism erysipelas

Word History and Origins

Origin of Saint Anthony's fire¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of Saint Anthony's fire¹

C16: so named because praying to St Anthony was believed to effect a cure

Example Sentences

In Dickey’s telling, what Saint Anthony’s fire, Flaubert’s writer’s block, and the realist novel have in common is a masturbatory economy: a resistance to productive labor that is at once pleasurable and agonizing.

From Salon

Over the bridge, round the corner, down by Tooley Street warehouses, famed for suffering from an ailment that must amongst buildings answer to the Saint Anthony’s fire of the human being; down past sacking, sailcloth, and rope warehouses; and down past marine stores, and miseries enough to give a man an ultramarine tint; and then home in the pleasant and unsalubrious locality of Snow’s Fields.

From Project Gutenberg

Gerard wrote about Coltsfoot: "The fume of the dried leaves, burned upon coles, effectually helpeth those that fetch their winde thicke, and breaketh without peril the impostumes of the brest"; also "the green leaves do heal the hot inflammation called Saint Anthony's fire."

From Project Gutenberg

I got the Saint Anthony's fire, also, in my left leg, and became quite a cripple.

From Project Gutenberg

Saint Anthony's fire, rose. escort, n. guard, convoy, usher.

From Project Gutenberg