MRZ

Noun

measles (uncountable)

1. An acute and highly contagious disease which often afflicts children caused by the virus Measles morbillivirus and causing red rashes, fever, runny nose, coughing, and red eyes.
   • Maybe it's the 'measles. They say they're going around the neighborhood.1970, Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, page 78
2. Synonym of cysticercosis: A disease of livestock or meat caused by the presence of tapeworm larvae.
   • The Swyne dyed of the Measils.1641, Ben Jonson, Timber

   Synonyms:

   cysticercosis

3. (obsolete) Any disease causing a tree's bark to become rough and irregular.
   • Their fruit-trees are subject to two diseases, the Meazels... and lowsiness.1674, John Josselyn, An Account of Two Voyages to New-England, page 190
4. (US, jargon) A discreet assassination made to look like death from natural causes.
   • […] they would prefer having him "die of the measles," as wags at the CIA put it, than be punished by legal means. If there is no convenient way of administering the "measles," they may even favor simply letting him go.1975, Miles Copeland, Beyond Cloak and Dagger: Inside the CIA, page 204
5. (obsolete) Any disease causing red rashes.
6. (obsolete) Used as an intensifier.
   • Why the meazills, should you stand heere, with your traine...1614 November 10 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Beniamin Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Bartholmew Fayre: A Comedie, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1631...