These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'variola.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
borrowed from Medieval Latin, "pustule, pox," going back to Late Latin, "pustule," from varius "affected by pox, leprous" (adjective derivative of varus "pimple" + Latin -ola, variant of -ula-ule after vowels — more at varix
Note:
Late Latin varius is very likely independent of classical varius "having contrasting colors, varied" (see various entry 1).
