The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Famine \Fam"ine\, n. [F. famine, fr. L. fames hunger; cf. Gr.
   ????? want, need, Skr. h[=a]ni loss, lack, h[=a] to leave.]
   General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions;
   destitution. "Worn with famine." --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

         There was a famine in the land.          --Gen. xxvi.
                                                  1.
   [1913 Webster]

   Famine fever (Med.), typhus fever.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

famine
    n 1: an acute insufficiency [syn: dearth, famine,
         shortage]
    2: a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting
       in violent hunger and starvation and death