scurvy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈskəːvi/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by swollen bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds, which particularly affected poorly nourished sailors until the end of the 18th century: the ravages of scurvy [as modifier]: the curative effects on scurvy victims

adjective (scurvier, scurviest)

archaic
  • worthless or contemptible: that was a scurvy trick

Derivatives

scurvily

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English (as an adjective meaning 'scurfy'): from scurf + -y1. The noun use (mid 16th century) is by association with French scorbut (see scorbutic)