Etymology

scrofula

scro·fu·la
S1C3R1O1F4U1L1A1

Today it means: A form of tuberculosis, most common in women 30-40 years of age, tending to cause enlarged and degenerated lymph nodes, especially in the neck, and often chronic, intractable skin inflammation as well. Full definition →

Latin scrōfulae
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The story

  1. Latin · borrowed fromscrōfulae
  2. English todayscrofula

Borrowed from Latin scrōfulae, a diminutive form of scrōfa (“breeding sow”), because swine were supposed to be subject to the complaint; or by fanciful comparison of the glandular swellings to little pigs.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.