tetanus

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛt(ə)nəs/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a bacterial disease marked by rigidity and spasms of the voluntary muscles. See also trismus.
    • This disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani; Gram-positive anaerobic rods
  • 2 Physiology the prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated stimuli.

Derivatives

tetanize

(also tetanise) verb

tetanoid

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek tetanos 'muscular spasm', from teinein 'to stretch'