whitlow

The story

1. Latin · derived fromfīcus“fig-shaped (ulcer)”
2. Low German · derived fromfit“abscess”
3. Middle Dutch · derived fromvijt
4. English todaywhitlow

From Late Middle English, an alteration of whitflaw, with the first element deriving either from Middle Dutch vijt or Low German fit (“abscess”), borrowed from Latin fīcus (“fig-shaped (ulcer)”), though also influenced by white. The Latin loan also existed in other languages, such as Old English fic (“hemorrhoids”). See flaw.

Words from the same roots