(n) acute infection caused by rickettsia and transmitted by the bite of an infected flea; characterized by fever and chills and muscle aches and a rash, Syn. urban typhus, endemic typhus, rat typhus
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
a. [ L. murinus, from mus, muris, mouse: cf. F. murin. ] (Zool.) Pertaining to a family of rodents (Muridae), of which the mouse is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]