Trench Fever
Preserved but no longer current.
A remittent or relapsing fever affecting men living in trenches, dug-outs, etc., and transmitted by the excrement of lice. It first appeared in World War I, in the static warfare on the western front.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Trench Fever” mean?
A remittent or relapsing fever affecting men living in trenches, dug-outs, etc., and transmitted by the excrement of lice. It first appeared in World War I, in the static warfare on the western front.
Is “Trench Fever” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.