botulism
1878, from Ger. Botulismus (1878), coined in Ger. from L. botulus “sausage” + -ismus suffix of action or state. Sickness first traced to eating tainted sausage.
measles
c.1325, probably from M.Du. masel “blemish” (in pl. “measles”), from P.Gmc. *mas- “spot, blemish” (cf. O.H.G. masla “blood-blister”). Probably influenced by O.Fr. mesel “leprous,” from L. misellus “wretched, unfortunate,” dim. of miser “wretched.” Measly “affected with measles” is 1687, sense of “meager and contemptible” first recorded 1864 in British slang.
gonorrhea
1526, from L.L. gonorrhoia, from gonos “seed” + rhoe “flow,” from rhein “to flow.” Mucus discharge was mistaken for semen. In early records often Gomoria, etc., from folk etymology association with biblical Gomorrah.
streptococcus
bacteria genus, 1877, Mod.L., coined by Viennese surgeon Albert Theodor Billroth (1829-94) from Gk. streptos “twisted” + Mod.L. coccus “spherical bacterium,” from Gk. kokkos “berry.” So called because the bacteria usually form chains.
Etyomological information accessed at www.etymonline.com
Image accessed at www.wannaveg.com (check out the site, in paticular “Our Mission.” Multiply by seven).
Tags: diseases, etymology, the number 7, vegetarianism
