pox

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
pox/pɒks/

▶noun

• 1 any of several viral diseases producing a rash of pimples that become pus-filled and leave pockmarks on healing.

  ■ (the pox) historical smallpox.

• 2 (the pox) informal syphilis.

– phrases
a pox on someone archaic expressing anger with someone.

– origin ME: alt. of pocks, pl. of pock.