[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/scurvy/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / scurvy

# scurvy

noun (scurvy — uncountable)

«scurvy» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

An illness caused by not getting enough vitamin C, which comes from fresh fruit and vegetables. It makes the gums bleed and people feel weak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#m1)

### In the lessons

In history lessons pupils learn that sailors on long voyages got scurvy because they had no fresh fruit; British sailors were given lemon or lime juice to stop it. In science and health lessons this shows why vitamins matter. Phrases: suffer from scurvy, prevent scurvy.

### Examples

- Long ago, many sailors got scurvy at sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x1)
- Oranges and lemons help to prevent scurvy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x2)
- Scurvy makes your gums sore and bleeding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x3)
- The captain gave his crew lime juice to stop scurvy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x4)
- Scurvy is very rare today. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x5)
- Eating fruit and vegetables keeps us safe from scurvy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Scurvy is caused by lack of vitamin C, not by germs, so you cannot catch it from someone. Pirate stories sometimes use "scurvy" as an insult, as in "you scurvy dog!"

## In Jewish tradition

It is listed with other defects that disqualify a priest from service and an animal from being an offering.

**Interpretation.** The tradition teaches that offerings must be whole and unblemished.

### Examples

- or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath his eye overspread, or is scabbed, or scurvy, or hath his stones crushed; (Torah LEV.21.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/scurvy/#x1)
- Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scabbed, or scurvy, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. (Torah LEV.22.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/scurvy/#x2)

### Note

Uncountable. Scurvy is caused by lack of vitamin C, not by germs, so you cannot catch it from someone. Pirate stories sometimes use "scurvy" as an insult, as in "you scurvy dog!"

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scurvy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scurvy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scurvy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scurvy.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «scurvy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/scurvy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scurvy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/scurvy.html) on Mova free.