grocer's itch

2 definitions found

grocer's itch - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Grocer \Gro"cer\, n. [Formerly written grosser, orig., one who
     sells by the gross, or deals by wholesale, fr. F. grossier,
     marchand grossier, fr. gros large, great. See Gross.]
     A trader who deals in foods such as meats, dairy products,
     produce, tea, sugar, spices, coffee, fruits, and various
     other commodities.
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     Grocer's itch (Med.), a disease of the skin, caused by
        handling sugar and treacle.
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  Itch \Itch\, n.
     1. (Med.) An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated
        vesicles, produced by the entrance of a parasitic mite
        (the Sarcoptes scabei), and attended with itching. It is
        transmissible by contact.
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     2. Any itching eruption.
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     3. A sensation in the skin occasioned (or resembling that
        occasioned) by the itch eruption; -- called also
        scabies, psora, etc.
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     4. A constant irritating desire.
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              An itch of being thought a divine king. --Dryden.
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     Baker's itch. See under Baker.
  
     Barber's itch, sycosis.
  
     Bricklayer's itch, an eczema of the hands attended with
        much itching, occurring among bricklayers.
  
     Grocer's itch, an itching eruption, being a variety of
        eczema, produced by the sugar mite (Tyrogluphus  sacchari
        ).
  
     Itch insect (Zool.), a small parasitic mite (Sarcoptes  scabei
        ) which burrows and breeds beneath the human skin,
        thus causing the disease known as the itch. See Illust. in
        Append.
  
     Itch mite. (Zool.) Same as Itch insect, above. Also,
        other similar mites affecting the lower animals, as the
        horse and ox.
  
     Sugar baker's itch, a variety of eczema, due to the action
        of sugar upon the skin.
  
     Washerwoman's itch, eczema of the hands and arms, occurring
        among washerwomen.
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