Word History

Etymology

New Latin Ancylostoma, a hookworm genus (earlier Agchylostoma, from Greek ankýlos "bent, crooked, curved" + -o- -o- + stóma "mouth") + -iasis — more at angle entry 3,stomach entry 1

Note: The genus name Ancylostoma was introduced by the Italian physician Angelo Dubini (1813-1902) in "Nuovo verme intestinale umano (Agchylostoma duodenale), costituente un sesto genere dei Nematoidei proprii dell'uomo," Annali universali de medicina (Milano), vol. 106 (aprile, maggio e giugno 1843), pp. 5-13.

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancylostomiasis was in 1880

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Cite this Entry

“Ancylostomiasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancylostomiasis. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

variants also ankylostomiasis
-ki-lō-
or anchylostomiasis
-ki-lō-
plural ancylostomiases -ˌsēz How to pronounce ancylostomiasis (audio) also ankylostomiases or anchylostomiases
: infestation with or disease caused by hookworms
especially : a lethargic anemic state due to blood loss through the feeding of hookworms in the small intestine

called also hookworm disease

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