Typhus \Ty"phus\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? smoke, cloud, stupor arising from fever; akin to ? to smoke, Skr. dh?pa smoke.] (Med.) A contagious continued fever lasting from two to three weeks, attended with great prostration and cerebral disorder, and marked by a copious eruption of red spots upon the body. Also called {jail fever}, {famine fever}, {putrid fever}, {spottled fever}, etc. See {Jail fever}, under {Jail}.