carbunco

anthrax

noun kahr-BOON-koh Rare

Origin: From Latin 'carbunculus' (small coal, gemstone), diminutive of 'carbo' (coal).

Usage Note

Carbunco is the Spanish name for anthrax, the bacterial disease of livestock and humans (Bacillus anthracis). Beware the false-friend inversion: English 'anthrax' is Spanish carbunco, while English 'carbuncle' (a cluster of boils) is Spanish ántrax. The red-gemstone sense belongs to the related forms carbúnculo/carbunclo, not to carbunco.

Examples

"El carbunco puede ser fatal si no se trata."

Natural Translation

Anthrax can be fatal if untreated.

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