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opisthotonos

Syllabification: (op·is·thot·o·nos)
Pronunciation: /ˌäpisˈTHätnəs/

(also opisthotonus)
Definition of opisthotonos

noun

Medicine
  • spasm of the muscles causing backward arching of the head, neck, and spine, as in severe tetanus, some kinds of meningitis, and strychnine poisoning.

Origin:

mid 17th century: via late Latin from Greek opisthotonos 'drawn backward'

opisthotonos in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of opisthotonos in the British & World English dictionary

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