Murrain /ˈmʌrɪn/[1] (also known as distemper) is an antiquated term for various infectious diseases affecting cattle and sheep.[2] The word originates from Middle English moreine or moryne, as a derivative of Latin mori "to die".[3]
The word murrain, much like the word pestilence, did not refer to a specific disease but rather served as an umbrella term for what are now recognized as a number of different diseases with high morbidity and mortality, such as rinderpest, erysipelas, foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, and streptococcus infections. Some of these livestock diseases could also affect humans. The term murrain also referred to an epidemic of such a disease. There were major sheep- and cattle-murrains in Europe during the 14th century, which, combined with the Little Ice Age, resulted in the Great Famine of 1315–1317, weakening the population of Europe before the onset of the Black Death in 1348.[4]
- ^ "murrain". Collins English Dictionary (13th ed.). HarperCollins. 2018. ISBN 978-0-008-28437-4.
- ^ Scott, Gordon. "The Murrain Now Known As Rinderpest". taa.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
- ^ "murrain - Dictionary.com". dictionary.com. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
- ^ Jordan, William C (1996). The Great Famine: Northern Europe in the Early Fourteenth Century. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-05891-1.
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