shingles

What it means

1. informaluncountablemedicineHerpes zoster, caused by Human herpes virus 3, in genus Varicellovirus.

   From the description, Letha felt sure Jane had herpes zoster, or shingles, which often strikes cancer patients or others with depressed immune systems. Jane spent another week in the Bubble, treated with acyclovir.

   2005, Donald Hall, The Best Day the Worst Day: Life with Jane Kenyon, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 98

   Synonyms: herpes zoster

In a sentence

From the description, Letha felt sure Jane had herpes zoster, or shingles, which often strikes cancer patients or others with depressed immune systems. Jane spent another week in the Bubble, treated with acyclovir.

2005, Donald Hall, The Best Day the Worst Day: Life with Jane Kenyon, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 98

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekζώνη
2. Latincingulus
3. Englishshingles

From Latin cingulus, variant of cingulum (“girdle”), translating Ancient Greek ζώνη (zṓnē), ζωστήρ (zōstḗr).