Lockjaw: meaning, definitions and examples
🤐
lockjaw
[ ˈlɒkˌdʒɔː ]
medical condition
Lockjaw, also known as tetanus, is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system and causes muscles to tighten, particularly in the jaw, leading to difficulty in opening the mouth. It is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is often found in soil and animal feces. Symptoms typically appear a week to several months after exposure to the bacteria.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The patient was diagnosed with lockjaw after stepping on a rusty nail.
- Vaccination can help prevent lockjaw caused by tetanus.
- Lockjaw can be a painful condition that requires treatment.
Translations
Translations of the word "lockjaw" in other languages:
🇵🇹 trismo
🇮🇳 लॉकजॉ
🇩🇪 Kieferklemme
🇮🇩 kunci rahang
🇺🇦 锁牙
🇵🇱 zablokowana żuchwa
🇯🇵 ロックジョー
🇫🇷 trismus
🇪🇸 trismo
🇹🇷 çene kilitlenmesi
🇰🇷 턱 경직
🇸🇦 تصلب الفك
🇨🇿 zablokování čelisti
🇸🇰 zablokovaná čeľusť
🇨🇳 锁颚
🇸🇮 zaklepanje čeljusti
🇮🇸 lásir í kjálka
🇰🇿 жақтың құлыпталуы
🇬🇪 მკერდი
🇦🇿 çənə kilitlənməsi
🇲🇽 trismo
Etymology
The term 'lockjaw' has its origins in the combination of two English words: 'lock', referring to the act of closing or fastening something, and 'jaw', which describes the lower part of the face involved in the action of biting and chewing. The word was first recorded in the English language in the late 19th century. Initially, it was used descriptively to denote the phenomenon of the jaw being locked or unable to move freely due to the underlying medical condition, tetanus. Tetanus itself derives from the Greek word 'tetanon', meaning 'to stretch', referencing the rigidity associated with the muscle contractions experienced during the illness. Lockjaw has historically been a significant health concern, particularly before widespread vaccination against tetanus was established in the mid-20th century.