1. a form of tuberculosis affecting lymph nodes, especially in the neck
Usage: medical; historical

Examples

• Scrofula was once a common disease in medieval Europe.
• The physician diagnosed the patient with scrofula after examining the swollen neck glands.
• Historical records show that scrofula affected many children in poor living conditions.
• Modern antibiotics have made scrofula a rare condition in developed countries.
• The king was believed to have the power to cure scrofula by touch.
• Scrofula typically causes enlarged, painless lymph nodes in the neck.