Scurvy
Webster's Dictionary [1]
(1): ( n.) Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible.
(2): ( n.) A disease characterized by livid spots, especially about the thighs and legs, due to extravasation of blood, and by spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all the mucous membranes. It is accompanied by paleness, languor, depression, and general debility. It is occasioned by confinement, innutritious food, and hard labor, but especially by lack of fresh vegetable food, or confinement for a long time to a limited range of food, which is incapable of repairing the waste of the system. It was formerly prevalent among sailors and soldiers.
(3): ( n.) Covered or affected with scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy.
King James Dictionary [2]
SCUR'VY, n. from scurf scurvy for scurfy Low L. scorbutus. A disease characterized by great debility, a pale bloated face, bleeding spongy gums, large livid tumors on the body, offensive breath, aversion to exercise, oppression at the breast or difficult respiration, a smooth, dry, shining skin, &c. a disease most incident to persons who live confined, or on salted meats without fresh vegetables in cold climates.
SCUR'VY, a.
1. Scurfy covered or affected by scurf or scabs scabby diseased with scurvy. 2. Vile mean low vulgar worthless contemptible as a scurvy fellow.
He spoke scurvy and provoking terms. Shak.
That scurvy custom of taking tobacco. Swift.
Holman Bible Dictionary [3]
Leviticus 21:20 Leviticus 22:22 Deuteronomy 28:27
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [4]
Scurvy . See Medicine, p. 599 b .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
skûr´vi ( גּרב , gārābh ; ψώρα ἀγρία , psṓra agrı́a ( Leviticus 21:20; Leviticus 22:22 )): This word is used to denote an itchy, scaly disease of the scalp, probably any of the parasitic diseases which are known as tinea , porrigo or impetigo . These cases have no relation whatever to the disease now known as scorbutus or scurvy. The name was probably derived from its scaliness, and the old Greek physicians believed these diseases to be peculiarly intractable.
The name "Gareb" is used in Jeremiah 31:39 as the placename of a hill at or near the southeastern corner of Jerusalem, probably from the bare roughness of the surface of its slope at the southern end of the Wâdy er - Rabābi . Another hill of this name is mentioned near Shiloh in the Talmud, and the name is given to one of David's warriors ( 2 Samuel 23:38 ).
Scurvy etymologically means any condition of scaliness of skin which can be scraped off, such as dandruff.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [6]
( גָּדָב , Garab, from גָּרַב , to scratch) , scurf on the akin ( Leviticus 21:20; Leviticus 22:22), perhaps of a malignant kind ("Scab," Deuteronomy 28:27). So also the word יַלֶּפֶת , yallepheth, rendered "scabbed" ( Leviticus 21:20; Leviticus 22:22), signifies a sort of itching scab, scurf, tetter, so called as sticking fast. (See Leprosy). The disease known by the name of scurvy in modern times is usually caused by long confinement in cold and damp climates, without fresh provisions, and a due quantity of acescent food. In the progress of the disease the skin becomes dry and scaly, livid spots appear, and the sufferer experiences great debility.
