cowpox

2 definitions found

cowpox - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cowpox \Cow"pox`\ (-p[o^]ks`), n. (Med.)
     A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when
     communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects
     from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox,
     cowpock, and kinepock. --Dunglison.
     [1913 Webster]

cowpox - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  cowpox
      n 1: a viral disease of cattle causing a mild skin disease
           affecting the udder; formerly used to inoculate humans
           against smallpox [syn: cowpox, vaccinia]