tet ‧ a ‧ nus /ˈtet ə nəs/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: Greek tetanos , from tetanos 'stretched, tight' ]
a serious illness caused by ↑ bacteria that enter your body through cuts and wounds and make your muscles, especially your jaw, go stiff SYN lockjaw