Meaning & use
scurvy
A disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, marked by bleeding gums, fatigue, and weakness.
See it in a sentence
Sailors on long voyages once suffered from scurvy before citrus fruit became common on ships.
Doctors diagnosed scurvy after noticing the patient's swollen, bleeding gums.
A note on using this word
Scurvy is now rare where fresh fruits and vegetables are available, since vitamin C prevents it.
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