Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCAR-LAT'IN-A, n. [It. scarlattino and scarlatto, scarlet.]

An exceedingly barbarous Italian term with a Latin termination, employed by many to designate that febrile exanthem, commonly called in English scarlet fever, and in nosology rosalia. It is characterized by fever, attended about the third day with an eruption of level or nearly level crimson red patches, first appearing in the fauces, and on the face, neck and breasts, and progressively on the whole surface, often confluent and terminating about the seventh day, in cuticular exfoliations.