(n) a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars, Syn. variola, variola major
(n) a local infection induced in humans by inoculation with the virus causing cowpox in order to confer resistance to smallpox; normally lasts three weeks and leaves a pitted scar, Syn. variola vaccine, vaccina, variola vaccinia, variola vaccina