n.
Pronunciation: ' te-t ə -n ə s, ' tet-n ə s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, from tetanos stretched, rigid; akin to Greek teinein to stretch ― more at THIN
Date: 14th century
1 a : an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by the specific toxin of a bacterium ( Clostridium tetani ) which is usually introduced through a wound ― compare LOCKJAW b : the bacterium that causes tetanus
2 : prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from rapidly repeated motor impulses