[Cf. early Du. sweetende sieckte (Kilian), after Eng.; also mod.Du. zweetziekte, G. schweisssucht, Sw. svettsjuka.] A febrile disease characterized by profuse sweating, of which highly and rapidly fatal epidemics occurred in England in the 15th and 16th centuries. Now chiefly Hist. in reference to these.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., A vij. This yere [sc. 1485] was a grete deth and hasty callyd th swetynge syknes.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xxvii. (1870), 289. Whan the Plages of the Pestylence or the swetynge syckenes is in a towne,… the people doth fle.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 83. This yeare [sc. 1529] also was Germany sore afflicted with a newe kynde of disease called the Sweathing sicknes.
1661. J. Childrey, Brit. Baconica, 122. The first time of this sweating sickness was in the year 1485.
1758. Jortin, Erasm., I. 36. The sweating sickness … began at first in 1483, in Henry the Seventh’s army, upon his landing at Milford haven.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 423. The sweating sickness was a rapid fever, carrying people off in 24 hours.
fig. or allusively. 1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. 1904, II. 228. Let mee … tell a little of the sweating sicknes, that made me in a cold sweate take my heeles and runne out of England.
1639. Massinger, Unnat. Combat, IV. ii. [We will] case you Of your golden burthen: the heavy carriage may Bring you to a sweating sickness.
