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Origin and history of psoriasis

psoriasis(n.)

"chronic non-contagious skin disease characterized by dry, red patches covered with flakes," 1680s, from medical Latin psoriasis, in Late Latin "mange, scurvy," from Greek psōriasis "the itch; a being itchy," from psōrian "to have the itch," from psōra "itch, mange, scab," related to psēn "to rub" (see psilo-). Related: Psoriatic.

Entries linking to psoriasis

before vowels psil-, word-forming element meaning "stripped, bare," used mostly in forming scientific terms, from Greek psilos "bare, naked; mere," perhaps akin to psēn "to rub," and both or either perhaps from PIE root *bhes- "to rub" (source also of Greek psamathos "sand;" see sand (n.)). Middle English had psilotre "a depilatory ointment" (c. 1400).

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