Saint Vitus's dance

American  

[vahy-tuh-siz] / ˈvaɪ tə sɪz /

Or Saint Vitus' dance

noun

1. St. Vitus's dance.

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Saint Vitus's dance British  

/ ˈvaɪtəsɪz /

noun

1. pathol a nontechnical name for Sydenham's chorea

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Etymology

Origin of Saint Vitus's dance

C17: so called because sufferers traditionally prayed to Saint Vitus (3rd-century child martyr) for relief and were said to be cured by a visit to his shrine

Example Sentences

Don’t come straggling into the office one morning muttering, “First, gout. Now ague, biliousness, lumbago, Saint Vitus’s dance and dropsy. What’s next, apoplexy?”

From Washington Post • Aug. 16, 2019

Mrs. Maginnis listened eagerly, and longed to know who this was, for she had a little girl troubled with Saint Vitus's dance.

From The Faith Doctor A Story of New York by Eggleston, Edward

"I believe it isn't uncommon for children to get well of Saint Vitus's dance," said Millard.

From The Faith Doctor A Story of New York by Eggleston, Edward

They got as much chance with me as a man with Saint Vitus's dance has of landing a trout.

From Just Around the Corner Romance en casserole by Hurst, Fannie

The humorist wrote back: "Yes, rheumatism and Saint Vitus's dance."

From Toaster's Handbook Jokes, Stories, and Quotations by Fanning, C. E. (Clara Elizabeth)