ántrax

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anthrax, from Ancient Greek ἄνθραξ (ánthrax).

Noun

ántrax m (uncountable)

1. (medicine) carbuncle

Usage notes

• The term ántrax refers classically to the carbuncle, whereas the anthrax would be carbunco. Due to English influence, the word ántrax has also adopted the meaning of anthrax, although when used in this meaning, the correct usage is within the expression ántrax maligno (literally “evil anthrax”), so there is no confusion.

Further reading

• “ántrax”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014