When considering the noun anthrax, my mind immediately goes to the white powder that was infamously mailed to politicians after the tragic events of 9/11. However, back in 1398 when it was first introduced into the English language, it specifically referred to inflamed skin lesions (which are the main symptom of the disease associated with the toxin). Originating from Latin, the term derives from Ancient Greek anthrax, which had a secondary meaning of “boil” but literally translated to “coal” due to the dark coal-like tissues found in the center of anthrax lesions (this also serves as the root of the rock name anthracite). Ultimately, the word’s origin remains unknown, possibly stemming from a pre-Greek language. The literary usage of anthrax reached its peak in 1926 and has been on a downward trend since then, although the twenty-first century has brought about a resurgence in the use of the word.
