Achaque

/əˈtʃɑk/ noun

Definition

An archaic term for a complaint, ailment, or defect, particularly in old legal or medical texts.

Etymology

From Old French achaque or Spanish achaque, possibly from Arabic origin. Used in medieval legal terminology to describe bodily ailments or defects.

Kelly Says

Achaque was a legal term—if you wanted to return something as defective in medieval times, you had to formally declare its 'achaque,' so this word appears in countless old sales contracts as people negotiated over broken goods.

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