First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
shingles
noun plural but singular in construction shin·gles \ˈshiŋ-gəlz\
medical : a disease that causes pain and red marks on your skin along the path of a nerve
Full Definition of SHINGLES
: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves that is associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains and is caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox —called also herpes zoster, zoster
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SHINGLES
Middle English schingles, by folk etymology from Medieval Latin cingulus, from Latin cingulum girdle — more at cingulum
Medical Dictionary
shingles
noun plural but singular in construction shin·gles \ˈshiŋ-gəlz\
Medical Definition of SHINGLES
: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pain and caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox—called also herpes zoster, zona, zoster
Learn More About SHINGLES
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: shingle towPrevious Word in the Dictionary: shingle oakAll Words Near: shingles
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up shingles? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).