Isn't it interesting how the benign nature of measles is coded into the English language? Measly (slang): Contemptibly small; meager, insignificant: "gave the waiter a measly tip." A deadly disease would not be spoken of in this manner. We don't say, "gave the waiter a MALIGNANT tip," because cancer is serious. Measles is just a measly fever and a rash. Yes, people can die from measles. People also can get a stroke from picking their nose.