n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; , fr. &unr_;, to quench, as fire; pass., to die away. ] (Med.) A wasting of flesh without fever or apparent disease; a kind of consumption; atrophy; phthisis. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pining atrophy,
Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Marasmus senilis [ L. ], progressive atrophy of the aged. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] 1. (Zool.) A large black-and-white carrion-eating stork of the genus Leptoptilos (formerly Ciconia), esp. the African species (Leptoptilus crumeniferus syn. Leptoptilos crumenifer), whose downy under-wing feathers are used to trim garments; called also marabout. The Asiatic species (Leptoptilos dubius, or Leptoptilos argala) is the adjutant. See Adjutant. [ Written also marabu. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One having five eighths negro blood; the offspring of a mulatto and a griffe. [ Louisiana ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A kind of thrown raw silk, nearly white naturally, but capable of being dyed without scouring; also, a thin fabric made from it, as for scarfs, which resembles the feathers of the marabou in delicacy, -- whence the name. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F., from Pg. marabuto, Ar. morābit. Cf. Maravedi. ] 1. A Muslim saint; especially, one who claims to work cures supernaturally. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The marabou{ 1 }. [ PJC ]