Rheumatism \Rheu"ma*tism\, n. [L. rheumatismus rheum, Gr. ????, fr.??? to have or suffer from a flux, fr. ??? rheum: cf. F. rheumatisme. See 2d Rheum.]

(Med.) A general disease characterized by painful, often multiple, local inflammations, usually affecting the joints and muscles, but also extending sometimes to the deeper organs, as the heart.

Inflammatory rheumatism (Med.), acute rheumatism attended with fever, and attacking usually the larger joints, which become swollen, hot, and very painful.

Rheumatism root. (Bot.) See Twinleaf.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)