ETYM Latin, from Greek, from tetanos stretched.
An acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles are a symptom; SYN. lockjaw.
Or lockjaw; Acute disease caused by the toxin of the bacillus Clostridium tetani, which usually enters the body through a wound. The bacterium is chiefly found in richly manured soil. Untreated, in seven to ten days tetanus produces muscular spasm and rigidity of the jaw spreading to other parts of the body, convulsions, and death. There is a vaccine, and the disease may be treatable with tetanus antitoxin and antibiotics.
More than 500,000 babies a year die of tetanus (1995).
Muscular spasm due to a soil bacillus; lockjaw.