black death

noun

often capitalized B&D

: plague sense 2b

: a severe epidemic of plague and especially bubonic plague that occurred in Asia and Europe in the 14th century

Etymology

from the black patches formed on the skin of its victims

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of black death was in 1755

See more words from the same year

Style

“Black death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20death. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

black death

noun

: plague (as bubonic plague) caused by a bacterium and especially in the epidemic form that spread through Asia and Europe in the 14th century

also : the 14th-century epidemic of plague

black death

noun

variants or Black Death

: plague sense 2

also : a severe epidemic of plague and especially bubonic plague that occurred in Asia and Europe in the 14th century

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