[Ads-l] "French pox" in the OED?

[Dave Hause]

The name for syphilis is derived from Fracastoro's 1530 epic poem in three 
books, Syphilis sive morbus gallicus ("Syphilis or The French Disease"), 
about a shepherd boy named Syphilis who insulted Greek god Apollo[5] and was 
punished by that god with a horrible disease. (from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girolamo_Fracastoro)
Dave Hause

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joel Berson
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2015 7:24 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: "French pox" in the OED?


Why does the OED have (under "French adj. and n.") "4. In names given to 
venereal diseases, esp. syphilis" and separately (under S2) "French pox"?

Joel 

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org