whitlow

Meanings

Plural: whitlows

Noun

a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail
An infection near or under the cuticle of a fingernail or toenail.

Origin / Etymology

Late Middle English, alteration of whitflaw, the first element coming from either Middle Dutch vijt or Low German fit (“abscess”), borrowed from Latin fīcus (“fig-shaped (ulcer)”), though also influenced by white. The Latin loan also existed in other languages, such as Old English fic (“hemorrhoids”). See flaw.

Synonyms

felon, nimpingang, paronychia, wicklow

Scrabble Score: 16

whitlow is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
whitlow is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
whitlow is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

whitlow is a valid Words With Friends word