Meaning & use
Murrain
Last updated
An infectious plague or disease affecting cattle or other livestock, especially historically.
See it in a sentence
A murrain swept through the village's herds, leaving farmers with almost no cattle by spring.
Old parish records mention a murrain that killed half the region's sheep in a single winter.
A note on using this word
Once common in agricultural and legal English, 'murrain' now survives mainly in historical texts and the old curse 'a murrain on you.'
Words with a similar meaning
plaguepestilence
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