For those who need to know …
It was bothering me that I didn’t know why this freaking ailment was called “shingles”. This annoyance probably should not have been anywhere near top of on my “Nuisance Items Of the Moment” list, but I allowed it to drift toward the top because it distracted me from other things that I have no ability to do anything about.
I began doing research on the web, which was confused from the start because the web doesn’t know the difference between roofing material and disease states. I’ll warn you in advance that searches such as “why is shingles called shingles?” are a step below useless. After some various key word deletions/additions, I finally hit upon this web page with a single line devoted to my hunt: Shingles – A strange name for a strange disease, a 2008 posting on the website “Health” by by Diana Post, M.D., Harvard Medical School.
The name “shingles” comes from the Latin word “cingulum,” which means belt or girdle.
I’ll admit that the reason only leads me to additional questions. Shingles can be easily diagnosed in most instances because it tends to only affect one side of the body. Why would a word that means that something is encircled come to be associated with something that usually only half-encircles? I’m thinking that somebody really needs to rethink the name of this freaking disease.
I suppose we could attempt to stay with tradition and call this “semi-shingles” or “hemi-cingulum” or some-such permutation of the original derivation. I propose a superior alternative that would put the confusing name to rest and provide a more descriptive and identifiable name for the condition. I may forward my proposal of “Death By Blisters” to the AMA, but I’m not too sure of what paper-work I’ll need yet.
The paperwork, yeah, in triplicate too.
Gruesome.
Baking soda bath???
Just a thought…
FWIW, according to the Oxford English Dictionary:
"Representing medieval Latin cingulus… variant of cingulum girdle…
An eruptive disease (Herpes zoster) often extending round the middle of the body like a girdle (whence the name)"
So it sounds as if this encircling is one variant form. Or someone back in the C14th thought it was a clever name.
The roofing sort of shingle has a different etymology, but has ended up looking the same in English.
Ouch! You’ve got shingles?! Our twentysomething nephew (hubby’s sister’s son) had it recently. It must be going around. He’s young for it, but I understand he’s always been a bit sickly. Even if he is a big, beefy, football-player-physique guy.
My mom had it, too, when she was about my age. As soon as I turn fifty, the age they recommend for getting the vaccine, I’m having them shoot me up.
Etymology is a strange and twisted topic, but one that is usually enlightening. In this case? Notsomuch. I really hope you feel better soon.
That makes more sense than what my Mom told me years ago (she got shingles while pregnant with me). She said it was "because they look a little bit like shingles on a roof".
I think she has a better imagination than I have to see that. LOL
Hope you’re feeling more comfortable soon!
Alli
I do hope that you feel better real soon. I have not had the shingles myself but know people who have and it can be painful and unbearable. Hang in there in the meantime and thank you for the information about shingles. God bless you!