"corruption, rottenness, putrid matter," 1630s, from Medieval Latin putriditas, from Latin putridus (see putrid). In this sense Middle English had putrede (c. 1400).
Entries linking to putridity
putrid adj.
late 14c., "festering gangrenous, in a state of decay," from Old French putride and directly from Latin putridus, from putrere "to rot," from putris "rotten, crumbling," related to putere "to stink," from PIE root *pu- (2) "to rot, stink" (see pus). First in reference to putrid fever, an old name for typhus (also known in Middle English as putrida), which supposedly was caused by putrefaction of bodily humors. Related: Putridness.