Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A contagious, usually fatal disease of horses and other equids, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei and characterized by swollen lymph nodes, nasal discharge, and ulcers of the respiratory tract and skin. The disease is communicable to other mammals, including humans.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A form of equinia characterized by a severe affection of the mucous membrane of the nose and by a profuse discharge from it. See equinia.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Far.) A highly contagious and very destructive disease of horses, asses, mules, etc., characterized by a constant discharge of sticky matter from the nose, and an enlargement and induration of the glands beneath and within the lower jaw. It may transmitted to dogs, goats, sheep, and to human beings.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An infectious disease of horses, mules and donkeys caused by the bacterium Burkholderia, one species of which may be transmitted to humans.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a destructive and contagious bacterial disease of horses that can be transmitted to humans

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English glaundres, from Old French glandres, glandular swelling, pl. of glandre, gland; see gland.]

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Examples

  • The term glanders applies to the disease in both forms, while the term farcy is limited to the visible appearance of external trouble only; but in the latter case internal lesions always exist, although they may not be evident.

    Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

  • With the exception of the rare disease known as glanders, the horse is not believed to be directly responsible for any of the maladies from which the human being suffers, but it is well established that fully

    Health on the Farm A Manual of Rural Sanitation and Hygiene 1896

  • Public watering troughs and the feed boxes of boarding stables and the tavern stables of market towns are among the most common recipients for the virus of glanders, which is most dangerous in its fresh state, but cases have been known to be caused by feeding animals in the box or stall in which glandered animals had stood several months before.

    Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

  • And it has been shown to be true of some of the most destructive diseases which infect animals, such diseases as the sheep pox, such diseases as that most terrible and destructive disorder of horses, glanders, that in these, also, the active power is the living solid particle, and that the inert part is the fluid.

    Essays 2007

  • Ebola/marburg ergotism erysipelas glanders influenza influenza complicated by Guillian Barre syndrome or toxic shock syndrome

    Sometimes, I love being wrong - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • During the past few months the city papers have referred to St. Vincent as the leprosy town, Hallock was referred to as the pauper district; we have been advertised as the refuge of tramps and quarantined on account of glanders*; but last of all and worst of all Bro, W-- --- has commenced pelting us with poetry, and SUCH poetry!

    "...Leprosy Town..." Trish Short Lewis 2006

  • Don't go giving me some kinda awful cow disease like anthrax or glanders or aftosa....

    "She gave a loose, flinging shrug that tersely conveyed disbelief, fury and sadness. It was an editorial in itself." Ann Althouse 2006

  • The spread of shame on her face was such, when she saw her own misunderstanding, that I was ashamed to look at her; and occupied myself with drawing all the risk of glanders forth from the white limb, hanging helpless now, and left entirely to my will.

    Lorna Doone Richard Doddridge 2004

  • Going into the inn-yard I had a great deal of learned discourse with an old ostler about the glanders in horses.

    Wild Wales : Its People, Language and Scenery 2004

  • Probably no more'n a newt with glanders, but straightaway you lot bawl 'Dragon!' and off for help you run.

    Smart Dragons, Foolish Elves Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1991

Comments

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  • "The doctor had not notified them of any contagious diseases in the area belonging to the commune; the hens wouldn't have to fear the staggers, the pigs swine fever, the turkeys the pip, the cows mammitis, the dogs rabies or the horses glanders."

    Witch Grass by Raymond Queneau, translated by Barbara Wright, p 145 of the NYRB paperback

    November 7, 2010