What does "pox" mean?

A disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pockmarks.

Pox

Common synonyms include: acquired syphilis, balanitis gangrenosa, blast, cerebral tabes, chancre, chancroid.

/pɑks/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
A disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pockmarks. countable, uncountable
2
a contagious disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pock marks wordnet
3
Syphilis. countable, uncountable
4
a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta) wordnet
5
A curse. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"A pox on him, he's a cat still."

Verb

1
To infect with the pox, or syphilis. dated, transitive
"Jack had a moſt ſcandalous tongue, and perſuaded Peg that all mankind, beſides himſelf, were pox'd by that ſcarlet-faced whore, †Signiora Bubonia. “As for his brother Lord Peter, the tokens were evident on him, blotches, ſcabs, and the corona. […]”"

"Chicken pox is an itchy nuisance for kids."

From the plural of Middle English pocke. See also pock.