vaccinia

Noun

• a viral disease of cattle causing a mild skin disease affecting the udder; formerly used to inoculate humans against smallpox

• a local infection induced in humans by inoculation with the virus causing cowpox in order to confer resistance to smallpox; normally lasts three weeks and leaves a pitted scar

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  cowpox , vaccina , variola vaccine , variola vaccinia , variola vaccina