pencil-fever
Preserved but no longer current.
A supposititious disease among racehorses, the preliminary symptoms of which show that an animal has been pretty considerably "milked." PENCIL-FEVER sets in when, despite the efforts of the "marketeers," a horse can no longer be kept at a short price in the lists, through his actual condition being discovered, and when every layer of odds is anxious to write his name down. This disorder is also called "milk-fever," "market-fever," and other suggestive names.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pencil-fever” mean?
A supposititious disease among racehorses, the preliminary symptoms of which show that an animal has been pretty considerably "milked." PENCIL-FEVER sets in when, despite the efforts of the "marketeers," a horse can no longer be kept at a short price in the lists, through his actual condition being discovered, and when every layer of odds is anxious to write his name down. This disorder is also called "milk-fever," "market-fever," and other suggestive names.
Is “pencil-fever” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.