diphtheria

From French diphthérie, coined 1857 by Pierre Bretonneau; from Ancient Greek διφθέρα (diphthéra, “prepared hide, leather”), for the tough membrane that forms in the throat. Bretonneau earlier used diphthérite, from which diphtheritis.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪfˈθɪəɹɪə/, /dɪpˈθɪəɹɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /dɪfˈθiɚɹi.ə/, /dɪpˈθiɚɹi.ə/
• Rhymes: -ɪəɹiə

diphtheria (countable and uncountable, plural diphtherias)

1. (pathology) A highly infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract characterised by a sore throat, fever, and difficulty breathing, its symptoms being due to a potent toxin excreted by the infecting agent Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

(repiratory tract infection):

• Boulogne sore throat (obsolete)
• strangling angel / strangling angel of children (informal, archaic)
• diphtheritis

• diphtheriae
• diphtherial
• diphtheric
• diphtheritic
• diphtheritis
• DPT
• DPPT

• Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• C. diphtheriae

diphtheria (uncountable)

1. diphtheria