Blacktongue

/ˈblæk.tʌŋ/ noun

Definition

A condition in dogs caused by vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency, causing the tongue to darken and swell.

Etymology

From 'black' + 'tongue,' a descriptive medical term identifying the visible symptom of pellagra in canines, first documented in veterinary medicine in the early 1900s.

Kelly Says

When scientists discovered that blacktongue in dogs was cured by niacin, it helped them understand that humans suffered from the same deficiency disease called pellagra—a major nutritional medicine breakthrough!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.