Late 19th century; earliest use found in The British Medical Journal. From American Spanish mal del pinto from mal + del of the + pinto, use as noun of pinto painted, mottled.
Definition of mal del pinto in US English:
mal del pinto
(also mal de pinto)
nounmal dɛl ˈpɪntəʊ
Medicine
Pinta.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in The British Medical Journal. From American Spanish mal del pinto from mal + del of the + pinto, use as noun of pinto painted, mottled.