famine

noun

1. extreme and general scarcity of food, as in a country or a large geographical area.
2. any extreme and general scarcity.
3. extreme hunger; starvation.

noun

1. a severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation
2. acute shortage of anything
3. violent hunger

n.

mid-14c., from Old French famine “hunger” (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *famina, from Latin fames “hunger, starvation, famine,” of unknown origin.

see feast or famine.