Whitlow

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Whitlow \Whit"low\, n. [Prov. E. whickflaw, for quickflaw, i.
     e., a flaw or sore at the quick; cf. Icel. kvika the quick
     under the nail or under a horse's hoof. See {Quick}, a., and
     {Flaw}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Far.) An inflammatory disease of the feet. It occurs
        round the hoof, where an acrid matter is collected.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Whitlow grass} (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}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  whitlow
       n : a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the
           area surrounding the nail [syn: {felon}]