phossy jaw

English

Noun

phossy jaw (uncountable)

1. A disease resulting from exposure to white phosphorus causing degeneration of the teeth and jaw.
   • 2005, Jennifer Worth, Shadows of the Workhouse, Weidenfeld & Nicholson (2009), page 143:

     “We thought she would escape phossy jaw. But it got her, yes, it got her, and she died a terrible death.”

Synonyms

• phosphorus necrosis of the jaw

Hypernyms

• osteonecrosis of the jaw, ONJ (when dealing with just the mouth)
• osteochemonecrosis
• osteonecrosis
• necrosis

Derived terms

• bisphossy jaw

See also

• radium jaw