chicken-pox

Noun

chicken pox (usually uncountable, plural chicken poxes)

1. (archaic, usually) The blisters formed by the varicella zoster virus (VZV).

   Synonyms:

   chicken pock

2. (usually) The highly contagious airborne disease caused by initial infection with varicella zoster virus, typically causing a skin rash that forms small itchy blisters.
   • Chickenpox parties, at which children gather so they can all be infected by a child who has the pox, are often held by parents who distrust chickenpox vaccine or want their children to have the stronger immunity that surviving a full-blown infection affords.2009 May 7, New York Times, page A12

   Synonyms:

   varicella

3. (proscribed, sometimes, usually, inexact) Any disease causing similar symptoms.