scurvy
1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for scurvy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, causing bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin spots.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use scurvy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Late Middle English forms of "scurfy" (having scurf, or flaky skin), from "scurf," a skin condition causing flakes — ultimately from Old English scurf.
Full origin of scurvy →Frequently asked questions
What does “scurvy” mean?
The word “scurvy” means a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, causing bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin spots. In plain terms, most commonly the vitamin-C deficiency disease; as an old-fashioned adjective, it means low, mean, or contemptible.
How do you pronounce “scurvy”?
“Scurvy” is pronounced SKUR-vee (/ˈskɜɹvi/ in IPA).
How do you use “scurvy” in a sentence?
Here is “scurvy” used in a sentence: “Sailors on long voyages once suffered terribly from scurvy before citrus fruit became standard rations.”
What part of speech is “scurvy”?
Depending on how it is used, “scurvy” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “scurvy” come from?
The word “scurvy” comes from Old English. From Late Middle English forms of "scurfy" (having scurf, or flaky skin), from "scurf," a skin condition causing flakes — ultimately from Old English scurf.
How many meanings does “scurvy” have?
“Scurvy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, causing bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin spots.