plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a contagious tropical disease especially of children caused by a spirochete (Treponema pertenue) closely resembling the causative agent of syphilis and marked by infectious ulcerative skin lesions with later bone involvement
called also frambesia
Cite this Entry
“Yaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yaws. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yaws
singular or plural noun
: a tropical contagious skin disease especially of children caused by a bacterium that is a spirochete
Medical Definition
yaws
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: an infectious contagious tropical disease especially of children that is caused by a spirochete of the genus Treponema (T. pertenue) and that is characterized by a primary ulcerating lesion on the skin followed by a secondary stage in which ulcers develop all over the body and by a third stage in which the bones are involved
Yaws is a chronic childhood infection spread by casual contact and causing long-lasting sores on the legs and and arms. In time this infection attacks the bones, leaving scars similar to those from syphilis.—
John Noble Wilford
John Noble WilfordOther threats came from organisms co-evolving with humans, including tapeworms and such bacteria as Treponema, the agent of syphilis, and the similar skin infection, yaws.—Roy Porter
Roy Portercalled also frambesia, pian
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