What is "ague fit"

Ague \A"gue\, n. [OE. agu, ague, OF. agu, F. aigu, sharp, OF. fem. ague, LL. (febris) acuta, a sharp, acute fever, fr. L. acutus sharp. See Acute.]

1. An acute fever. [Obs.] ``Brenning agues.''
   --P. Plowman.

2. (Med.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.

3. The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague.

4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold.
   --Dryden.

   Ague cake, an enlargement of the spleen produced by ague.

   Ague drop, a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for ague.

   Ague fit, a fit of the ague.
   --Shak.

   Ague spell, a spell or charm against ague.
   --Gay.

   Ague tree, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [Obs.]