(also phagedena, phagedoena)Medicine. Now historical
noun
Ulceration that spreads and destroys surrounding tissue; an ulcer of this nature.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in John Banister (1532/3–?1610), surgeon. From classical Latin phagedaena kind of ulcer that eats away the flesh from ancient Greek ϕαγέδαινα from ϕαγεῖν to eat, devour + -έδαινα, suffix forming feminine nouns.