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Glite Dictionary
variola vaccina

variola vaccina

9.9
An infection from cowpox virus given to people to protect them from smallpox
  • noun
  • /ˌværiˈoʊlə væˈkɪnə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : variola vaccina
  • After receiving variola vaccina, patients often developed a characteristic scar at the injection site.

Examples

  • The practice of inoculating with variola vaccina helped eradicate smallpox worldwide.

  • The doctor administered variola vaccina to prevent smallpox.

  • In the 19th century, variola vaccina was a breakthrough in public health.

  • Many people received variola vaccinas during the smallpox eradication campaign.

  • The doctor administered variola vaccina to prevent smallpox infection in the community.

  • In the 19th century, variola vaccina became widely used to protect against smallpox.

  • Many people received variola vaccina during the vaccination campaign aimed at eradicating smallpox.

Synonyms

vaccinia
vsvariola vaccina
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A small local skin infection after smallpox vaccination

gives clinical details like typical duration and pitted scarring not vaccination focus
variola vaccinia
vsvariola vaccina
  • Specialized
8.1

A local infection caused by cowpox that protects against smallpox and leaves a small pitted scar

is the same infection but defined more generally not stressing local skin involvement
vaccina
vsvariola vaccina
  • Archaic
9.9

A local skin infection from cowpox given to protect against smallpox, leaving a scar

emphasizes that the scar is often pitted rather than a plain scar

Surface Forms

variola vaccina singular
variola vaccinas plural
variola vaccinæ singular

Morphology

variola + vaccina

The compound is built from two medical/Latin nouns whose meanings (a pustular viral disease + a vaccination-related localized infection) give a clear clue that the term refers to an infection used in relation to smallpox immunity. However, the expression is a technical, historical Latin phrase and not a regular English noun–noun compound, so a B1 learner would only partially infer the precise sense (cowpox inoculation, timing and scarring) without prior exposure.

Etymology

Variola vaccina literally means 'smallpox of the cow', with variola = 'smallpox' and vaccina = 'of the cow'. Doctors used cowpox to protect people from smallpox, so the name came to mean the protective injection used to prevent the disease.