Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A suppurative inflammation of the deeper tissues of a finger, usually of the terminal phalanx; felon, panaritium, or paronychia.
- noun An inflammatory disease of the feet in sheep. It occurs around the hoof, where an acrid matter collects, which ought to be discharged.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Med.) An inflammation of the fingers or toes, generally of the last phalanx, terminating usually in suppuration. The inflammation may occupy any seat between the skin and the bone, but is usually applied to a felon or inflammation of the periosteal structures of the bone.
- noun (Far.) An inflammatory disease of the feet. It occurs round the hoof, where an acrid matter is collected.
- noun (Bot.) name given to several inconspicuous herbs, which were thought to be a cure for the whitlow, as
Saxifraga tridactylites ,Draba verna , and several species of Paronychia.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An
infection under thecuticle of afingernail ortoenail .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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A so-called whitlow is a boil on the tip of a finger.
THE NATURAL REMEDY BIBLE JOHN LUST 2003
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Ninnis suffered pain owing to a "whitlow" on one of his fingers.
The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920
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As many as 30 different species grow, among them Alpine bartsia Bartsia alpina, Alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum, Unalaska fleabane Erigeron humilis and thick-leaved whitlow grass Draba crassifolia.
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"The bottomline is that Nigerians want to know the truth, even if it is whitlow, the nation needs to know," he said.
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Then, in a distant Missionary way he asked them certain questions, — as why little Joe had that hole in his frill, who said, Pa, Flopson was going to mend it when she had time, — and how little Fanny came by that whitlow, who said,
Great Expectations 2007
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Somethin 'like' ya fuckin 'whitlow Tommae - WHITLOW!'.
FallNews 1997
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I cured a ringworm and lanced a whitlow under a thumbnail.
River God Smith, Wilbur, 1933- 1993
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The truth is, we had read amiss, and the Queen had spelt amiss: the word was "Fellon," -- a sort of whitlow, -- not "Fellow."
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862 Various
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He that says that the doctor's skill is wanted in the case of a slight skin-eruption or whitlow, but is not needed in the case of pleurisy, fever, or lunacy, in what respect does he differ from the man that says that schools and teaching and precepts are only for small and boyish duties, while great and important matters are to be left to mere routine and accident?
Plutarch's Morals 46-120? Plutarch
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In common whitlow of the finger, how the arteries of the arm, the brachial in particular, throb, is well known.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 274, September 22, 1827 Various
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