noun
scurvy
SKUR-vee
noun
1
A disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, causing bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin spots.
"Sailors on long voyages once suffered terribly from scurvy before citrus fruit became standard rations."
adjective
1
Mean, despicable, or contemptible.
"That was a scurvy trick to play on your own brother."
How to Use Scurvy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the vitamin-C deficiency disease; as an old-fashioned adjective, it means low, mean, or contemptible.
Memory tip
The adjective sense ("scurvy dog!") is now mostly heard in pirate-themed fiction.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
scurvy dog
a case of scurvy
Word Forms
scurvier comparative, scurvies plural, scurviest superlative
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Sailors on long voyages once suffered terribly from _____ before citrus fruit became standard rations.
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.