scurvy
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈskɜːvi/
ipa: /ˈskɜɹvi/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)vi
Forms: form: scurvier
form: scurviest
Etymology: 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. It was used to translate the similar-sounding Dutch scheurbuik, French scorbut, Middle Low German schorbūk (“scurvy (disease)”), etc.
Senses: examples: text: Some wenches come vnlased, / Some hyswyues come vnbrased, / Wyth theyr naked pappes, / That flappes and flappes; / […] / A sorte of foule drabbes / All scuruy with scabbes: […]
ref: c. 1517 (date written; published c. 1545), John Skelton, “Here after Foloweth the Booke Called Elynour Rummynge. The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng per Skelton Laureat.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 99, lines 133–136 and 139–140:
text: The bran of VVheate boiled in ſharpe vineger, and rubbed vpon them that be ſcuruie and mangie, easeth the partie very much.
ref: 1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of Corne”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC, book I, page 60:
text: This medicine is vvell approued to cure all ſorts of Paine, Scratches, Moully heeles, or any other skiruy ſcalls vvhatſoeuer, that may breede in a horſes leg or heeles, […]
ref: 1610, Gervase Markham, “Of the Paines”, in Markhams Maister-peece. Or, What doth a Horse-man Lacke. Containing All Possible Knowledge whatsoeuer which doth Belong to any Smith, Farrier, or Horse-leech, Touching the Curing of All Manner of Diseases or Sorrances in Horses; […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson, […], →OCLC, 2nd book (Containing All Cures Chyrurgicall, […]), page 351:
text: Whoſoeuer he be of thy ſeed in their generations, that hath any blemiſh, let him not approche to offer the bread of his God: […] [he] that hath a blemiſh in his eye, or be ſcuruy, or ſcabbed, […]
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 21:17 and 20, column 1:
synonyms: word: roynish
word: scabrous
word: reef
word: roynish
word: scabby
word: scabrate
word: scabrid
word: scabrous
word: scald
word: scalled
word: scurvy
coordinate_terms: mangy
glosses: Affected or covered with scurf (“skin disease causing flakes of skin to fall off”) or scabs; scurfy, scabby; also, of or relating to a skin disease causing scurf or to scurvy (noun sense 1).
glosses: Of growths on plants: resembling scurf; scurfy.
examples: text: a scurvy knave    a scurvy trick
text: Iſt not a ſcuruie ieſt, that a man ſhould ieſt himſelfe to death.
ref: c. 1587 (date written), [Thomas Kyd], The Spanish Tragedie: […] (Fourth Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for T[homas] Pauier, […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III, signature F2, verso:
text: The Moore's abus'd by ſome outragious knaue: / Some baſe notorious knaue, some ſcuruy fellovv, […]
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 73:
text: VVhat a py'd Ninnie's this? Thou ſcuruy patch: / I do beſeech thy Greatneſſe giue him blovves, […]
ref: 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12, column 1:
text: Hovv ſcuruy provvd he vvould looke, vvhen the Treaſury vvas full: / VVell, let him goe: […]
ref: [1612–1613 (date written), John Webster, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1623, →OCLC, Act III, scene ii, signature G2, verso:
text: And among other Regulations it vvould be very convenient to prevent the Exceſs of Drink, vvith that ſcurvy Cuſtom among the Lads, and Parent of the former Vice, the taking of Tobacco, vvhere it is not abſolutely neceſſary in Point of Health.
ref: 1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], →OCLC, page 29:
text: [W]e only had a scurvy dinner at an alehouse, and he made me go to the tavern, and drink Florence, four and sixpence a flask; damned wine?
ref: 1711 January 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XIII.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XIV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 324:
text: [T]he company here vvere not ſo riotous as the Bucks of Covent-Garden, but formed themſelves into a circle, vvithin vvhich ſome of the number danced to the muſick of a ſcurvy organ and a fevv other inſtruments, […]
ref: 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “The Proceed to the Hague; from whence They Depart for Amsterdam, where They See a Dutch Tragedy. […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume II, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 258:
text: I have a scurvy touch of old puritanical humour about me. I abide not the imposition of hands—take off your grasp from my cloak, or I will find means to make you unloose it.
ref: 1822, [Walter Scott], chapter VIII, in Peveril of the Peak. […], volume IV, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 192:
synonyms: word: miserable
word: paltry
word: shabby
word: abject
word: base
word: beggarly
word: blameworthy
word: carrion
word: cheap
word: contemptible
word: cringing
word: dedecorous
word: degraded
word: deridable
word: derisible
word: despicable
word: despisable
word: dirty
word: discreditable
word: disdainable
word: disgraceful
word: dishonorable
word: disreputable
word: execrable
word: groveling
word: ignoble
word: ignominious
word: inglorious
word: lame
word: laughable
word: loathsome
word: ludicrous
word: low
word: mean
word: mean-spirited
word: miserable
word: obscene
word: outrageous
word: pitiable
word: pitiful
word: plebeian
word: paltry
word: putrid
word: reprehensible
word: reptile
word: reptilian
word: reptitious
word: ridiculous
word: risible
word: roynish
word: scald
word: scornworthy
word: scummy
word: scurvy
word: shabby
word: shameful
word: sleazy
word: slavish
word: slimy
word: sordid
word: sorry
word: trashy
word: ugly
word: uncommendable
word: uncool
word: unmentionable
word: unwashed
word: unsophisticated
word: unworthy
word: vile
word: vulgar
word: weak
word: worthless
word: wretched
glosses: Of a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low.
glosses: Of the way someone is treated: poor, shabby.
Derived terms: word: scoury
word: scurvily
word: scurviness