pandiculation

American  

[pan-dik-yuh-ley-shuhn] / pænˌdɪk yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of stretching oneself, especially on waking.

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pandiculation British  

/ pænˌdɪkjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of stretching and yawning, esp on waking

2. a yawn

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Etymology

Origin of pandiculation

First recorded in 1641–20; from Latin pandiculāt(us), past participle of pandiculārī “to stretch oneself,” derivative of pandere “to stretch” ( -ate ¹ ) + -ion

Explanation

If you've ever awoken in the morning, yawned, and stretched your arms, you've experienced pandiculation. Use the noun pandiculation to describe the particular sleepy combination of yawning and stretching. It's a somewhat obscure but impressive way to talk about a universal phenomenon. Animals are prone to pandiculation too, extending their paws in a stretch and yawning widely. The Latin root is pandiculari, "to stretch oneself," from pandere, "to stretch."

Example Sentences

The pleasure we receive from a melodious succession of notes referable to the gamut is derived from another source, viz. to the pandiculation or counteraction of antagonist fibres.

From Zoonomia, Vol. I Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus