pellagra (n.)

chronic disease caused by dietary deficiency (formerly blamed on diseased grain) and characterized by dry, red skin, 1811, from Italian (1770s); according to Watkins, a hybrid formed from Latin pellis "skin" (from PIE root *pel- (3) "skin, hide") + Greek agra "a catching, seizure," related to agrein "to take, seize." But OED suggests it might be originally Italian pelle agra "rough skin." Related: Pellagrous.

also from 1811

Entries linking to pellagra

*pel- (3)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "skin, hide."

It forms all or part of: erysipelas; fell (n.2) "skin or hide of an animal;" film; pell; pellagra; pellicle; pelt (n.) "skin of a fur-bearing animal;" pillion; surplice.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek pella, Latin pellis "skin;" Old English filmen "membrane, thin skin, foreskin."

Trends of pellagra

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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rib

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updated on March 19, 2020

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Dictionary entries near pellagra

Pelasgian

*pele-

pelf

pelican

pell

pellagra

pellet

pellicle

pell-mell

pellucid

Peloponnesus