murrain

noun

mur·​rain ˈmər-ən How to pronounce murrain (audio)
ˈmə-rən
: a pestilence or plague especially affecting domestic animals

Examples of murrain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Otherwise nature is outraged, floods will again sweep the land and murrains strike our cattle. Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'murrain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English moreyne, from Anglo-French morine, from morir to die, from Latin mori — more at murder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of murrain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near murrain

Cite this Entry

“Murrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/murrain. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

murrain

noun
mur·​rain ˈmər-ən How to pronounce murrain (audio)
ˈmə-rən
: a disease that spreads among domestic animals or plants

More from Merriam-Webster on murrain

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