Added 9 October 2026
scurvy
/ˈskɜːvi/ noun
In Latin: scorbutus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scurvy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
adjective
-
Of the most contemptible kind.
abject cowardice
Origin
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English scurvi, scurvy, variants of scurfi (“having scurf, scabby”), from scurf (“skin disease causing scabs or scales; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease, etc.”) + -i (suffix forming adjectives). Scurf is derived from Old English scurf, from Proto-Germanic *skurf- (“to gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut off, sever; to divide, separate”). By surface analysis, scurf (“skin disease; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease; crust-like formations on the skin”) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjectives). The noun is derived from the adjective.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)