GC: n
S: CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-fever/index.html (last access: 15 September 2024); SDir – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/yellow-fever-virus (last access: 15 September 2024).
N: 1. – yellow (adj): Middle English yelwe, from Old English geolu, geolwe, “yellow,” from Proto-Germanic *gelwaz (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German gelo, Middle Dutch ghele, Dutch geel, Middle High German gel, German gelb, Old Norse gulr, Swedish gul “yellow”), from PIE root *ghel- (2) “to shine,” with derivatives denoting “green” and “yellow” (such as Greek khlōros “greenish-yellow,” Latin helvus “yellowish, bay”).
In Middle English it also was used of a color closer to blue-gray or gray, of frogs or hazel eyes, and as a translation of Latin caeruleus or glauco. The meaning “light-skinned” (in reference to black persons) is recorded by 1808. It was applied to Asiatics by 1787, though that first reference is to Turkish words for inhabitants of India.
Yellow peril translates German die gelbe gefahr. The sense of “cowardly” is by 1856, of unknown origin; the color was traditionally associated rather with jealousy and envy (17c.). Yellow-bellied “cowardly” is from 1924, probably a semi-rhyming reduplication of yellow; earlier yellow-belly was a sailor’s name for a half-caste (1867) and a Texas term for Mexican soldiers (1842, based on the color of their uniforms). Yellow dog “mongrel” is attested from c. 1770; the slang sense of “contemptible person” is recorded by 1881. Yellow fever is attested from 1748, American English (jaundice is a symptom).
– fever (n): earlier also feaver, late Old English fefor, fefer “fever, temperature of the body higher than normal,” from Latin febris “fever,” related to fovere “to warm, heat,” which is probably from PIE root *dhegh- “burn” (source also of Gothic dags, Old English dæg “day,” originally “the heat;” Greek tephra “ashes;” Lithuanian dāgas “heat,” Old Prussian dagis “summer;” Middle Irish daig “fire”); but some suggest a reduplication of a root represented by Sanskrit *bhur- “to be restless.”
The Latin word was adopted into most of the Germanic languages (German Fieber, Swedish feber, Danish feber), but not Dutch. English spelling was influenced by Old French fievre.
An alternative word for “fever” was Old English hrið, hriðing (which is cognate with Old High German hritto, Irish crith, Welsh cryd, Lithuanian skriečiù, skriesti); Latin febris also was glossed by bryneadl. The extended sense of “intense nervous excitement” is from 1580s. Also as a verb in Old English, feferian.
– virus (n): Late 14c., “venomous substance,” from Latin virus “poison, sap of plants, slimy liquid, a potent juice. Main modern meaning “agent that causes infectious disease” first recorded 1728.
2. Yellow fever virus is a flavivirus which is transmitted to humans by infected Aedes and Haemogogus mosquitos in tropical areas of South America and Africa. Large outbreaks occur when mosquitos in a populated area become infected from biting viremic humans infected with yellow fever virus.
3. Transmission from the mosquitos to other humans occurs after an incubation period in the mosquito of 8 days. Direct person-to-person spread has not been reported. Illness due to yellow fever virus usually begins after an incubation period of 3 to 6 days, with acute onset of headache, fever, chills, and myalgia. Photophobia, back pain, anorexia, vomiting, and restlessness are other common symptoms. The individual is usually viremic for the first 4 days of illness until the fever and other symptoms diminish. Liver dysfunction and even failure can develop as can myocardial dysfunction. CNS infection is uncommon but symptoms can include seizures and coma. Medical care should include intensive supportive care and fluid management.
4. Microbiology and Parasitology: yellow fever virus.
- Yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the amaril virus, a member of the Flaviviridae family.
S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=yellow+fever+virus (last access: 15 September 2024). 2 & 3. SDir – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/yellow-fever-virus (last access: 15 September 2024). 4. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=yellow+fever+virus&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 15 September 2024).
SYN: amaril virus, Charon evagatus. (depending on context)
S: TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=yellow+fever+virus&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 15 September 2024)
CR: virus, yellow fever.
