carbuncle
pronunciation
How to pronounce carbuncle in British English:
UK [ˈkɑ:bʌŋkl]
How to pronounce carbuncle in American English:
US [ˈkɑrbʌŋkl]
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- Noun:
- deep-red cabochon-cut garnet cut without facets
- an infection larger than a boil and with several openings for discharge of pus
Word Origin
- carbuncle
- carbuncle: [13] Etymologically, a carbuncle is a ‘small piece of coal’. It comes ultimately from Latin carbunculus, a diminutive form of carbō ‘coal’ (source of English carbon). This reached English via Old French carbuncle. The Latin word had two main metaphorical meanings, based on the idea of a glowing coal: ‘red gem’ and ‘red inflamed spot’, both of which passed into English.The latter achieved some notoriety in British English in the 1980s following a remark by the Prince of Wales in 1984 comparing a piece of modern architecture unfavourably to a ‘carbuncle’, although ironically from the 15th to the 17th centuries the word was used for ‘something of great splendour’.=> carbon
- carbuncle (n.)
- early 13c., "fiery jewel," from Old North French carbuncle (Old French charbocle, charboncle) "carbuncle-stone," also "carbuncle, boil," from Latin carbunculus "red gem," also "red, inflamed spot," literally "a little coal," from carbo (genitive carbonis) "coal" (see carbon). Originally of rubies, garnets, and other red jewels; in English the word was applied to tumors from late 14c.
Example
- 1. Tcm syndrome differentiation of diabetes mellitus complicated with carbuncle on the back .
- 2. The abundant weak bone muscle carbuncle is soft , holds a wave spoiling an eye giving desire for love .
- 3. Spike carbuncle and the truly enormous egg .
- 4. Infectious skin diseases are common carbuncle , folliculitis , varicella , herpes zoster , of which the most common folliculitis .
- 5. Clearing and detoxifying , eliminate phlegm abscess carbuncle , swelling tonglin diuretic effect .