A highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever and a distinctive red rash. Always used in plural form despite referring to a single disease.
From Middle English 'maseles,' possibly from Middle Dutch 'masel' meaning spot or blemish. Related to German 'Masern.' The word may connect to 'maze' referring to the bewildering pattern of spots.
Measles is always plural in English, like 'scissors' or 'pants,' even though it's one disease. Before vaccines, measles was so common that getting it was considered a normal part of childhood - now it's rare enough to make headlines when it appears.
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