Dysentery \Dys"en*ter*y\, n. [L. dysenteria, Gr. ?; ? ill, bad + ?, pl. ?, intestines, fr. 'ento`s within, fr. ? in, akin to E. in: cf. F. dysenterie. See Dys, and In.]

(Med.) A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, and characterized by griping pains, constant desire to evacuate the bowels, and the discharge of mucus and blood.

Note: When acute, dysentery is usually accompanied with high fevers. It occurs epidemically, and is believed to be communicable through the medium of the alvine discharges.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)