pian, n.
(pɪˈæn, pjɑ̃)
Also epian, and in pl. pians.
[= Sp., Pg. epian and pian, F. pian, a. Galibi (Rio de Janeiro) pian (Roulin in Littré, suppl.). Cf. Guarani pia ‘bubas, granos’ (Montoya). Cf. Jas. Platt in N. & Q. 10th Ser. I. 5.]
A contagious tropical skin disease, occurring among Negroes, the same as frambœsia or yaws, q.v. (The names pians and yaws have occasionally been applied to two alleged forms of frambœsia. See quots.) Hence piˈanic a.
| [1768 F. B. de Sauvages Nosol. Method. II. 554 Frambæsia; Yaw Guineesium; Epian vel Pian Americanorum.] 1803 T. Winterbottom Sierra Leone II. viii. 139 The Yaws..is called by the Portuguese on the Coast Boba and by the French Pianes. Ibid. 145 Professor Sprengel has..made a similar division of this disease into Yaws and Pians. 1874 T. H. Burgess Man. Dis. Skin 233 The American disease called Pian or Epian seems to be identical with that denominated yaws in New Guinea. 1828 Lancet 15 Mar. 876/1 The pianic ulcers..furnish an acrid matter. |