Murrain

Murrain

Murrain (play /ˈmɜrɪn/) is a highly infectious disease of cattle and sheep.[1] It literally means "death" and was used in medieval times to represent just that.[2] The population of that era had no way of identifying specific diseases in their livestock so they simply put all illnesses under one heading.[citation needed] There were major sheep and cattle murrains in Europe during the 14th century, which combined with the Little Ice Age resulted in widespread famine during the Great Famine of 1315-1317, weakening the population of Europe before the onset of the Black Death in 1348.[3][clarification needed]

Murrain is also mentioned once in the Bible relating to the fifth plague brought upon Egypt. [4]

Exodus 9:3: "Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain."

"Pestilence", which is mentioned 47 times in 46 verses of the Bible, can be translated "murrain" by Christian apologists. [Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon]. see Psalms 91:3 KJV

The word in Hebrew is דֶּבֶר "dever" (Strong's # 01698), derived from the primitive root "dabar" in the sense of "to destroy".

In some parts of Scotland, force-fire was believed to cure it and in some remote regions of Cumbria, England, murrain is still used as a term for a curse, specifically a curse placed upon land or livestock. It is believed that the medieval term has, by a process of syncreticism become synonymous with witchcraft.[5] This usage inspired the ATV television play, Murrain, written by Nigel Kneale, which was broadcast on 27 July 1975 as part of the channel's Against the Crowd drama strand.

References

  1. ^ Scott, Gordon. "The Murrain Now Known As Rinderpest". www.taa.org.uk. http://www.taa.org.uk/TAA/murrain.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-28. 
  2. ^ "murrain - Dictionary.com". dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/murrain. Retrieved 2008-10-15. 
  3. ^ Jordan, William C (1996). The Great Famine: Northern Europe in the Early Fourteenth Century. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691058911. 
  4. ^ "Murrain (WebBible Encyclopedia) - ChristianAnswers.Net". www.christiananswers.net. http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/murrain.html. Retrieved 2008-07-28. 
  5. ^ Billingsley, John. "Northern Earth - Medical Care, Magical Cure". www.northernearth.co.uk. http://www.northernearth.co.uk/86cure.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-28. 

See also



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  • Murrain — Mur rain, n. [OE. moreine, OF. morine, fr. OF. morir, murir, 8die, L. mori, moriri.] (Far.) An infectious and fatal disease among cattle. Bacon. [1913 Webster] {A murrain on you}, may you be afflicted with a pestilent disease. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Murrain — Mur rain, a. Having, or afflicted with, murrain. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • murrain — (n.) cattle plague, early 14c., from Anglo Fr. moryn, O.Fr. moraine pestilence (12c.), probably from mourir to die, from L. mori (see MORTAL (Cf. mortal) (adj.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • murrain — [mʉr′in] n. [ME moreine < OFr morine < VL * morire, to die < L mori: see MORTAL] 1. any of various infectious diseases of cattle 2. Archaic a pestilence; plague …   English World dictionary

  • Murrain — Pestilence or plague. The word was used of the diseases of sheep in particular. It was most likely babesiosis, an infection carried by ticks. There were several severe outbreaks between 1315 and 1322. Lore had it that murrain appeared every seven …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • murrain — noun Etymology: Middle English moreyne, from Anglo French morine, from morir to die, from Latin mori more at murder Date: 14th century a pestilence or plague especially affecting domestic animals …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • murrain — /merr in/, n. 1. Vet. Pathol. any of various diseases of cattle, as anthrax, foot and mouth disease, and Texas fever. 2. Obs. a plague or pestilence. [1300 50; ME moreine, moryne < MF morine a plague, equiv. to mor(ir) to die ( L mori) + ine… …   Universalium

  • Murrain —    Heb. deber, destruction, a great mortality , the fifth plague that fell upon the Egyptians (Ex. 9:3). It was some distemper that resulted in the sudden and widespread death of the cattle. It was confined to the cattle of the Egyptians that… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • murrain — (Roget s IV) n. Syn. anthrax, hoof and mouth disease, cattle disease, epizootic disease, murr, Texas fever, plague, pox, pestilence, cattle plague; see also disease …   English dictionary for students

  • murrain — mur·rain || mÉœrɪn / mÊŒrɪn n. any of a number of cattle diseases; foot and mouth disease (Veterinary Pathology) …   English contemporary dictionary

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