charbon

malignant \ma*lig"nant\, a. [L. malignans, -antis, p. pr. of
   malignare, malignari, to do or make maliciously. See
   {Malign}, and cf. {Benignant}.]
   1. Disposed to do harm, inflict suffering, or cause distress;
      actuated by extreme malevolence or enmity; virulently
      inimical; bent on evil; malicious.
      [1913 Webster]

            A malignant and a turbaned Turk.      --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Characterized or caused by evil intentions; pernicious.
      "Malignant care." --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            Some malignant power upon my life.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Something deleterious and malignant as his touch.
                                                  --Hawthorne.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Med.) Tending to produce death; threatening a fatal
      issue; virulent; as, malignant diphtheria.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Malignant pustule} (Med.), a very contagious disease
      produced by infection of subcutaneous tissues with the
      bacterium {Bacillus anthracis}. It is transmitted to man
      from animals and is characterized by the formation, at the
      point of reception of the infection, of a vesicle or
      pustule which first enlarges and then breaks down into an
      unhealthy ulcer. It is marked by profound exhaustion and
      often fatal. The disease in animals is called {charbon};
      in man it is called {cutaneous anthrax}, and formerly was
      sometimes called simply {anthrax}.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

Charbon \Char"bon\, n. [F., coal, charbon.]
   1. (Far.) A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity
      of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or
      mark has become obliterated.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and
      cattle. See {Maligmant pustule}.
      [1913 Webster]