Dictionary

milt-sick en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /mɪlt sɪk/

Etymology

From Old English milte seoc, literally, “spleen-sick”. By surface analysis, milt + sick.

Meanings

1. Having a disease of the spleen.
   • Sir,—In the Agricultural Journal of the 16th ult. appears a lengthy letter signed by Mr. Andrew Smith, treating on the symptoms and remedies for Milt-sick Blood-poisoning. 1891 September 10, H. W. Browne, Agricultural Journal, volume 4, number 5, Department of Agriculture of the Cape Colony, Milt-sick Blood-poisoning, page 58:
   • All herrings which in the re-packing, whether at sea or after arrival in Holland, require to be heightened (filled up), must only be filled up with herrings of the same night's taking and assortment; and no barrels must, on any account, be filled up with herrings of a later date, far less with milt-sick, roe-sick, or spent fish: […] 1824, Thomas Gill, Technical Repository, volume 6, London: T. Caddell, Strand, page 5:
   • Each buss-master shall diligently attend to the sorting of the fish, by separating the full from the poor ones, and not mixing the sound with the night-refuse, roe-sick, milt-sick, stinking or unsightly herrings; […] 1807 [1783], Transactions, volume 25, Royal Society of Arts, Colonies and Trade, page 171:
2. (South-Africa) Having anthrax (milt-sickness).

Forms

Deriveds

milt-sickness

Relateds

roe-sick