cowpox Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a viral disease of cattle causing a mild skin disease affecting the udder; formerly used to inoculate humans against smallpox
    vaccinia.

WordNet

Cow"pox` noun
Definitions
  1. (Med.) A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox, cowpock, and kinepock. Dunglison.

Webster 1913