icterusEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishicterus /ˈɪkt(ə)rəs / ▸ noun Medicine technical term for jaundice – DERIVATIVES icteric /ɪkˈtɛrɪk / adjective– ORIGIN early 18th century: via Latin from Greek ikteros. The Latin term denoted jaundice, also a yellowish-green bird (the sight of which was thought to cure jaundice).