The story
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: An animal condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes (caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin). Full definition →
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.