Middle English Dictionary Entry
tetanus n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tetanus n. Also tetan(e, tethanus, thetanus, thetans. |
| Etymology | L; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Pathol. A disease characterized by spasms and rigidity of muscles, tetanus.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)83a/b : This crampe hath þre manere of kyndes..þe þridde hatte tethanus & is whenne þe furþir [sinews] & hindir schrinken.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)104/10,13 : If þat a man haue a crampe, or ellis a tetane (þat is a sijknes þat halt þe membre lich streit on boþe sidis as a crampe halt þe oon side of þe membre), & þe feuere come on þilke..tetane, he [hippocras] distrieþ..þe sijknes.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)105/6,13 : Special signes maken oon of þre maner of crampis..þe iij tetanus..þe tetane halt þe boþe parties of þe body, so þat he may not turne his necke to no partie but al þe bodi is stif & streyned, as a staf were puttyn at his necke & out at his ers.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)378/5936 : Tetanus is þe mare contraccion of þe synewes fra þe nek to þe bak & an huge payne, & comes of þe same caus þat spasmus.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)166 : Ellebore..driueþ a-wey þe disease þat is clepid tetanus.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)179 : For tetanus: Þis [pellitory] wole dissolue þe disease and contraccon þat is clepid tetanus.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)95b/b : In..Thetanus boþe þe parties of þe body ben holden y-lich euene so þat he may neiþir turnen his necke to þat oon side ne to þat oþir but al þat bodi is streyned and maad, as it were, a planke.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)97a/b : Þer ben summe þat setten in her bokis medicyns þat prouoken þe feueris..That if a man hadde a crampe or ellis a tetan, if þe feuere come þeron, it schulde dissoluen þe sijknesse.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)107 : Capitulum lij: de spasms & thetans.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. tetan.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. tetanus.