pustule

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/ˈpʌstjuːl//ˈpʌst͡ʃuːl//ˈpʌst͡ʃəl/

noun

A small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis.

OriginMiddle English pustule ← Old French pustule ← Latin pustula →
RareScrabble 9
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Meanings

nounpustule (plural pustules)

plural pustules · alternative pus jewel

  1. dermatologyA small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis.
  2. A pimple filled with pus.

    Pigmy pagodas sprouted like pustules.

    1952, Norman Lewis, Golden Earth, Chapter 8
  3. Anything like a pustule, on plants or animals; a small blister.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
boilpimple

Origin

  1. Latinpustula“inflamed sore, blister”
  2. Old Frenchpustule
  3. Middle Englishpustule
  4. Englishpustule

From Middle English pustule, from Old French pustule, from Latin pustula (“inflamed sore, blister”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian пъ́пка, гно́йна пъ́пка
  • пъ́пка (pắpka)a small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • гно́йна пъ́пка (gnójna pắpka)a pimple filled with pus
  • пустула (pustula)a pimple filled with pus
Chinese Mandarin 疱
  • 疱 (pào)a small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Czech pustula, vřídek
  • pustulaa pimple filled with pus
  • vřídeka pimple filled with pus
  • neštovičkaa pimple filled with pus
Dutch puist, etterblaasje
  • puista small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • etterblaasjea small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Finnish märkärakkula, pustula
  • märkärakkulaa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • pustulaa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • pustelia small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
German Pustel
  • Pustela small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Irish puchóid, goirín
  • puchóida small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • goirína small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Italian pustola
  • pustolaa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Portuguese pústula
  • pústulaa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
Romanian pustulă, pustulă
  • pustulăa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • pustulăa pimple filled with pus
Spanish pústula, pústula
  • pústulaa small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis
  • pústulaa pimple filled with pus
Tagalog burog
  • buroga small accumulation of pus in the epidermis or dermis

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

pluteus
Cite this entry
APA

pustule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pustule

MLA

“pustule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pustule. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pustule,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pustule.

Source: pustule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.