Cushing

Part of speech: noun, proper noun, verb

Definitions

1. Pertaining to a medical condition characterized by excessive cortisol production
2. Describing a syndrome that can lead to various health issues like obesity and hypertension
3. Relating to the effects of an endocrine disorder caused by a tumor or adrenal gland dysfunction

Etymology: Harvey Cushing, an American neurosurgeon, gave his name to the condition after he described it in the medical literature. He linked its features to overactive adrenal hormone production, which is now usually traced to a pituitary tumor or to long-term use of corticosteroid medicines. The name is an eponym, a surname attached to a disease. Over time the capitalized surname has been used as a shortened, lowercase label for the syndrome, as in "cushing" in clinical notes. The related adjective "cushingoid" describes people whose appearance resembles the disorder, with a rounded face, central weight gain, and thin skin.