Path. Forms: 4 herisipila, 6 herisipelas, erisipila, 6–7 erisipelas, -ilas, -ylas, erisypelas, erysipilas, -iles, -ely, (eresipyla, iresipilis, 9 earisiply), 7– erysipelas. [a. Gr. ἐρυσίπελας (Hippocrates), of doubtful etymology. Commonly regarded as f. *ἔρυσι-ς reddening (:—OAryan rudhti-s, f. root *reudh, whence Gr. ἐρυθρός red) + πελ- in πέλλα skin (cogn. with L. pellis and FELL); but the formation appears abnormal. For the first element cf. ἐρυσίβη red blight on corn.]
A local febrile disease accompanied by diffused inflammation of the skin, producing a deep red color; often called St. Anthony’s fire, or ‘the rose.’
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., Add. MS. 27944 fo. 63. As it fareþ of hem þat haue an euel þat hatte herisipla.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, H iij b. Housleke … is good agaynst the sore called Erisipila.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., II. iii. 37. You must beware, that Herisipelas retourne not.
1635. Brathwait, Arcad. Pr., 173. This Erysipelas or wilde fire being once kindled, the flame is not so soon to be quenched.
1693. Q. Mary, Lett. (1886), 107. I so heated my blood that I had an iresipilis upon on arm.
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 268. Erysipelas or St. Anthony’s fire.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 251. It is common to bleed in the erysipelas.
1826. J. Williams, Last Legacy, 10. For the Earisiply, or St. Anthony’s Fire.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, xiii. 325. Erysipelas of the head commonly induces delirium.
Hence Erysipelatic a. [see -IC], of the nature of erysipelas; resembling erysipelas. Erysipelatoid a. [see -OID], resembling erysipelas. † Erysipelous a. [+ -OUS] = ERYSIPELATOUS. † Erysipelatose a. [see -OSE] = ERYSIPELATOUS.
1883. Standard, 3 Jan., 3/2. Wide-spread inflammation of an erysipelatic character.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 283. It is a useful thing … for Erysipelatose Affections.
1786. Cowper, Lett., Aug., 9. An eresypylatose [sic] eruption.
