ringworm

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyA contagious fungal infection of the skin, characterized by ring-shaped discolored patches, covered by vesicles or scales.

   In superficial mycoses infection is localised to the skin, the hair, and the nails. An example is ringworm or tinea, an infection of the skin by a dermatophyte.

   1 more example

   Many of these natives, especially the lower classes, and fishermen, have their skins disfigured in a singular manner, by a sort of scurfy disease, similar to the ring-worm, or rather to a person whose skin was peeling off from the effects of the sun.

   1848 December, “Pacific Ocean: The Island of Bornabi”, in The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle, volume 17, number 12, page 647

   Synonyms: dermatophytosis, tinea

In a sentence

In superficial mycoses infection is localised to the skin, the hair, and the nails. An example is ringworm or tinea, an infection of the skin by a dermatophyte.

Where it comes from

1. Old Englishrengwyrm“maw-worm, intestinal worm”
2. Middle Englishringworm“ringworm; intestinal worm”
3. Englishringworm

From Middle English ringworm (“ringworm; intestinal worm”), from Old English rengwyrm (“maw-worm, intestinal worm”), equivalent to ring + worm.