marsh fever
Definition
- Noun:
- A disease: "marsh fever" is an archaic or dialectal term for malaria, an infectious disease typically transmitted by mosquitoes, historically associated with swampy or marshy areas.
Usage Examples
- (The disease malaria, linked to wet environments.)
- (A historical term for malaria.)
Advanced Usage
- Historical context: "marsh fever" was used in the 18th and 19th centuries before the cause of malaria was understood, reflecting the belief that the disease was caused by "bad air" from marshes.
- The doctors attributed the outbreak of marsh fever to the stagnant water in the nearby fens. (They wrongly thought the fever came from the marsh air.)
Variants and Related Words
- Marsh (n): an area of low-lying, waterlogged land.
- The marsh was home to many species of birds. (A wetland area.)
- Fever (n): an abnormally high body temperature, often a symptom of illness.
- He had a high fever from the infection. (A sign of sickness.)
- Malaria (n): the modern term for the disease formerly called marsh fever.
- Malaria remains a serious health issue in tropical countries. (The current medical name.)
Synonyms
- Malaria: the standard modern term.
- Ague: an archaic term for a fever, often with shivering, historically used interchangeably with marsh fever.
- He was struck down by the ague after working in the fields. (A feverish illness.)
Related Idioms
- To catch a fever: to become ill with a feverish disease.
- She caught a fever after the trip to the jungle. (Became sick with a fever.)
- To be in a fever of excitement: to be extremely agitated or enthusiastic (not related to illness).
- The crowd was in a fever of excitement before the concert. (Very excited.)