A painful sore with a hard pus-filled core

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus , "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see furtive ). Related: Furuncular ; furunculous .

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a painful sore with a hard pus-filled core [syn: boil ]

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. a boil or infected, inflamed, pus-filled sore

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Furuncle \Fu"run*cle\, n. [L. furunculus a petty thief, a boil, dim. of fur thief: cf. F. furoncle.] (Med.) A superficial, inflammatory tumor, suppurating with a central core; a boil.