pus, fester, discharge
膿 centers on the thick, yellowish fluid that forms in infected tissue: pus. The verb senses of festering and discharging are natural extensions of that same idea of infection producing pus.
膿 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 農, which likely contributes the sound ノウ. The flesh radical indicates a bodily substance, and the compound expresses pus or festering.
The flesh radical ⺼ on the left signals something related to the body. The right side 農 looks like a thick, messy farm field. Picture an infected wound on the body oozing thick, farm-like pus.
For ノウ, imagine a wound that won't heal: you say 'No!' to the pus, but it keeps festering. 'No!' -> ノウ, and the flesh radical reminds you it's a bodily discharge.
pus
suppuration; festering; purulence; pyosis; coming to a head; infection
to fester; to form pus
abscess
empyema
Streptococcus pyogenes (bacterium that causes group A streptococcal infections)
pyogenetic; pyogenic; suppurative; pustular; festering; purulent
pyogenic granuloma
septic meningitis; purulent meningitis; suppurative meningitis
antipyic (drug); antibiotic
pyococcus; coccoid bacterium that forms pus
pyogenic bacteria; pus-producing bacteria
retropharyngeal abscess
acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis; AGEP
peritonsillar abscess; quinsy
peritonsillar abscess; quinsy
palmoplantar pustulosis
periodontitis; pyorrhea; pyorrhoea; pyorrhea alveolaris; inflammation of the gingiva (gums) resulting in bone loss
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
abdominal wall abscess