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Carbuncle

//ˈkɑː.bʌŋ.kl̩// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A deep-red or fiery colored garnet or other dark red precious stone, especially when cut cabochon. archaic

    "With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus […]"

  2. 2
    an infection larger than a boil and with several openings for discharge of pus wordnet
  3. 3
    A charge or bearing supposed to represent the precious stone, with eight sceptres or staves radiating from a common centre; an escarbuncle.
  4. 4
    deep-red cabochon garnet cut without facets wordnet
  5. 5
    An abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin. It is usually caused by staphylococcal infection.
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  1. 6
    An unpopular or ugly building; an eyesore.

Etymology

From Middle English carbuncle, charbocle, from Old French carbuncle, charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus (“a small coal; a reddish kind of precious stone; a kind of tumor”), diminutive of carbō (“a coal, charcoal”). Doublet of Garfinkel and Garfunkel.

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