Ty"phus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. smoke, cloud, stupor arising from fever; akin to to smoke, Skr. dhpa smoke.] Med.
A contagious continued fever lasting from two to three weeks, attended with great prostration and cerebral disorder, and marked by a copious eruption of red spots upon the body. Also called jail fever, famine fever, putrid fever, spottled fever, etc. See Jail fever, under Jail.
<-- caused by various species of Rickettsia -->
© Webster 1913.