Quote:
Originally Posted by SneakySnake
I think it was because the illness was "influenced" by the moon or something like that.
|
Yes, that's about it. It's from the Italian
influenza, "influence". From the OED's reference:
Quote:
|
Italian influenza has the various senses of English influence ; but has, besides, developed (apparently from the notion of ‘astral’ or ‘occult influence’) that of ‘visitation’ or ‘outbreak’ of any epidemic disease which assails many people at the same time and place
|
Quote:
|
Did Spanish folks die more often?
|
No, not at all.
