- scurvy (n.)
- 1560s, noun use of adjective scurvy (early 15c.), variant of scurfy (see scurf). It took on the meaning of Dutch scheurbuik, French scorbut "scurvy," the disease characterized by swollen and bleeding gums, prostration, etc., perhaps from Old Norse skyrbjugr, which is perhaps literally "a swelling (bjugr) from drinking sour milk (skyr) on long sea voyages;" but OED has alternative etymology of Middle Dutch or Middle Low German origin, as "disease that lacerates the belly," from schoren "to lacerate" + Middle Low German buk, Dutch buik "belly."