morbs

Perhaps from morbid,^[1] ultimately from Latin morbus (“malady (of body or mind), distress”).

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morbs pl (plural only)

1. (obsolete) Physical or mental illness or infirmity.
   • 1653, Francis Rabelais [i.e., François Rabelais], translated by [Thomas Urquhart] and [Peter Anthony Motteux], “An Epistle by Pantagruel’s Lymosin, Grand Excoriator of the Latiale Tongue, mention’d Book ii. Chap. 6.”, in The Works of Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick: Containing Five Books of the Lives, Heroick Deeds, and Sayings of Gargantua, and His Sonne Pantagruel. , London: for Richard Baddeley, , →OCLC; republished in volume II, London: Navarre Society , , →OCLC, page 438:

     For in veracity these Times denote
     Morbs to the Sane, and Obits to th' Ægrote;
     And alterate the suavest Pulchritude
     To the Complection of its native Mud.

   • a. 1673, Blasius Multibibus (Richard Brathwait), The Smoaking Age or The Life and Death of Tobacco, page 103:

     […] and what herbes or plants soever were preservative against the Scotoma, Oedema, Lithiasis, Paralysis, Celphalgia, Lycanthropia; all diseases, Ulcers, Morbs or Contagions wheresoever or howsoever arising […]

2. (archaic, informal) One who suffers from melancholia or depression.
   • 1919, Bert Williams, quotee, “Keeping up with the new laughs”, in Theatre Magazine, page 346:

     As a whole, New York audiences are the most responsive because they are made up largely of the happy, care-free transients, the human beings who come to New York to laugh. […] They are not wise as the morbs are, they are just happy, and natural and alive.

3. (archaic, informal, with the) A state of melancholy, sadness, ennui.