Scrofulous By Deane Barker • January 11, 2022 • Definition: morally degenerate; corrupt. “Scrofula” is a form of tuberculosis. Presumably, this is extrapolated to mean disease in general. Also, it sounds like “scruffy,” which fits (though the two words don’t seem to have related origins). Why I Looked It Up A novel had a character saying: On the way back here we stopped at a scrofulous pub and laughed and drank ourselves sick.