yaws

[ yawz ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. an infectious, nonvenereal tropical disease, primarily of children, characterized by raspberrylike eruptions of the skin and caused by a spirochete, Treponema pertenue, that is closely related to the agent of syphilis.

yaws

/ jɔːz /

noun

1. usually functioning as singular an infectious nonvenereal disease of tropical climates with early symptoms resembling syphilis, characterized by red skin eruptions and, later, pain in the joints: it is caused by the spiral bacterium Treponema pertenue Also calledframboesia

yaws

/ yôz /

1. A highly contagious tropical disease that chiefly affects children, caused by the spirochete Treponema pertenue and characterized by raspberrylike sores, especially on the hands, feet, and face.

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaws¹

From Carib, dating back to 1670–80; -s ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaws¹

C17: of Carib origin

Example Sentences

I noticed that from this moment Martin displayed a swiftly increasing interest in his own yaws.

From Project Gutenberg

Martin, in despair, has taken to horse-doctoring his yaws with bluestone and to blessing the Solomons.

From Project Gutenberg

All white men in the Solomons catch yaws, and every cut or abrasion practically means another yaw.

From Project Gutenberg

At the present moment of writing I have five yaws on my hands and three more on my shin.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. London and Jack came down with fever, and their yaws grew worse.

From Project Gutenberg