Dictionary.com

saccade

[ sa-kahd, suh- ]
/ sæˈkɑd, sə- /
Save This Word!
noun
the act of checking a horse quickly with a single strong pull of the reins.
Ophthalmology. the series of small, jerky movements of the eyes when changing focus from one point to another.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of saccade

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 sacsack1, hence presumably with sense “withdraw from a sack”) + -ade-ade1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for saccade

saccade
/ (səˈkɑːd, -ˈkeɪd) /
noun
the movement of the eye when it makes a sudden change of fixation, as in reading
a sudden check given to a horse

Word Origin for saccade

C18: from French: a jerk on the reins of a horse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK