saccade

[ sa-kahd, suh- ]

noun

1. the act of checking a horse quickly with a single strong pull of the reins.
2. Ophthalmology. the series of small, jerky movements of the eyes when changing focus from one point to another.

saccade

/ -ˈkeɪd; səˈkɑːd /

noun

1. the movement of the eye when it makes a sudden change of fixation, as in reading
2. a sudden check given to a horse

Word History and Origins

Origin of saccade¹

1720–30; < French saccade jerk, jolt, originally, movement of a horseman who abruptly pulls the reins, equivalent to Middle French saqu ( er ) to pull violently (N dialectal variant of Old French sachier, ultimately derivative of sac sack ¹, hence presumably with sense “withdraw from a sack”) + -ade -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of saccade¹

C18: from French: a jerk on the reins of a horse

Example Sentences

Toute la salle trépignait et le rire durait, repartant par saccade devant la mimique variée d'Arsay.

From Project Gutenberg