phossy jaw

English

Noun

phossy jaw (uncountable)

  1. A disease resulting from exposure to white phosphorus causing degeneration of the teeth and jaw.
    Synonym: phosphorus necrosis of the jaw
    Hypernyms: osteonecrosis of the jaw, ONJ (when dealing with just the mouth), osteochemonecrosis, osteonecrosis, necrosis
    • 2005, Jennifer Worth, Shadows of the Workhouse, Weidenfeld & Nicholson (2009), page 143:
      “We thought she would escape phossy jaw. But it got her, yes, it got her, and she died a terrible death.”

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