griseofulvin
/ˌɡrɪzɪə(ʊ)ˈfʊlvɪn
/noun [mass noun] Medicine
An antibiotic used against fungal infections of the hair and skin.
- This antibiotic is obtained from the mould Penicillium griseofulvum.
- The most commonly used drug is called griseofulvin, and you usually have to take it for up to 10 weeks.
- Among the systemic antifungal agents available, griseofulvin, terbinafine and itraconazole are effective.
Origin
1930s: from the modern Latin binomial, from medieval Latin griseus 'greyish' + Latin fulvus 'reddish yellow'.