collywobbles

American  

[kol-ee-wob-uhlz] / ˈkɒl iˌwɒb əlz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. intestinal cramps or other intestinal disturbances.

2. a feeling of fear, apprehension, or nervousness.

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collywobbles British  

/ ˈkɒlɪˌwɒbəlz /

plural noun

1. an upset stomach

2. acute diarrhoea

3. an intense feeling of nervousness

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Etymology

Origin of collywobbles

1815–25; coinage presumably based on colic, wobble; see -s ³

Explanation

If you have a case of the collywobbles, then chances are you should stay home and close to the bathroom. Collywobbles is severe gastroenteritis that may send your lunch on a rocky round trip through your digestive system. Many common illnesses have the look of a plural but the behavior of a singular (mumps, measles, hives) and collywobbles follows the pattern. The OED describes the origin of the word as a 'fantastic formation' of colic and wobble. That would be fantastic not in the "incredibly wonderful" sense but in the "based on fantasy" sense.

Example Sentences

Other past winners include a plastic dog on a plate of jelly, called Collywobbles, and a toy tractor pulling a plastic pig, entitled Pulled Pork.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2020

Last year, a plastic dog placed on a plate of jelly entitled Collywobbles scooped the gong.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2019

The losers of 24 Grand Finals in their long history, the club's repeated failure is called "Collywobbles."

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2010