blue tongue, noun phrase
- Forms:
- Also with initial capitals.
- Origin:
- South African DutchShow more Translation of South African Dutch blauwtong, see blauwtong.
Pathology
Either of two viral diseases of livestock, transmitted by gnats: a. A disease (especially of sheep) characterized by swelling of the lips and tongue, and bluish discoloration of the mucous membrane of the mouth; tung-ziekte. b. dikkop sense 2 a. In both senses also called blauwtong. Also attributive.
1863 J.S. Dobie S. Afr. Jrnl (1945) 86Blue tongue..(..a swelling of the tongue and lips which prevents the poor beast from eating).
1988 Smuts & Alberts Forgotten Highway through Ceres & Bokkeveld 180If you didn’t trek with your sheep in winter, those sheep would be far more likely to suffer from blue tongue, and especially tribulosis.
A disease (especially of sheep) characterized by swelling of the lips and tongue, and bluish discoloration of the mucous membrane of the mouth; tung-ziekte.
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