farcy

A veterinarian examines a horse with farcy on its leg.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chronic bacterial disease of horses: "farcy" is a contagious disease affecting horses, characterized by ulcerating nodules on the skin and lymphatic vessels. It is a form of glanders, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei.

Usage Examples

• (The disease was identified by its typical skin ulcers.)
• (The disease poses a danger to people handling sick horses.)

Advanced Usage

• "Farcy" in historical context: The term was used broadly in the past to describe any equine skin disease with nodules, but it is now specifically linked to glanders.
  • In 19th-century veterinary texts, farcy was often confused with other skin conditions. (Historical usage was less precise.)

Variants and Related Words

• Farcy-bud (n): a small nodule or swelling characteristic of farcy.

  • The farcy-bud on the horse's neck was a clear sign of infection. (A specific lesion of the disease.)

• Farcy-pipe (n): a thickened, cord-like lymphatic vessel affected by farcy.

  • The veterinarian palpated a farcy-pipe along the horse's leg. (A hardened lymphatic vessel due to the disease.)

Synonyms

• Glanders: the systemic form of the same bacterial disease, often affecting the respiratory tract.
• Equine farcy: a synonym emphasizing the horse as the host.

Related Idioms