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Definition of cowpox
cowpox
/ˈkaʊˌpɑːks/
cow · pox
cowpox Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
cowpox Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A mild, infectious viral disease affecting the udders of cows, caused by the cowpox virus, which can be transmitted to humans and historically provided immunity against the far more dangerous disease smallpox.
Example
"In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner developed the first successful vaccine by inoculating a young boy with fluid taken from a milkmaid's cowpox blisters."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for cowpoxWord Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 18th century as a compound of 'cow' and 'pox' (an alteration of 'pocks', the plural of 'pock', referring to the blister-like skin eruptions). The Latin translation, 'variolae vaccinae', became the basis for the word 'vaccine'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cowpox. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cowpox