mumps
English
Etymology
Circa 1600, from mump (“grimace”, noun), compare mump (verb), most likely referring to the painful difficulty in swallowing.
Noun
mumps pl (plural only)
- (pathology) A contagious disease caused by the Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus, mostly occurring in childhood, which causes swelling of glands in the face and neck.
- (dated) A gloomy or sullen silence.
Usage notes
- Usually used with a singular verb.
Translations
contagious disease
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References
“mumps” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
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