noma

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnəʊmə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a form of gangrene affecting the face, usually caused by a bacterial infection and typically occurring in young children suffering from malnutrition or other disease: she suffers from noma, a gangrenous disease

Origin:

late 17th century: Latin, alteration of nome 'ulcer', from Greek nomē, from nemein 'to feed'