shaken baby syndrome

American  

noun

1. a usually fatal condition of abused infants brought on by violent shaking by the arms or shoulders that causes severe internal bleeding, especially around the brain and in the eyes.

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shaken baby syndrome British  

noun

1. a combination of physical injuries and conditions such as brain damage and broken bones, sometimes leading to death, caused by the vigorous shaking of an infant or young child

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shaken baby syndrome Scientific  

/ shā′kən /

1. A condition in infants in which brain injury is caused by violent shaking that causes the child's brain to rebound against the skull. This results in bruising, swelling, and bleeding of the brain, often leading to permanent, severe brain damage or death.

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Etymology

Origin of shaken baby syndrome

First recorded in 1985–1990

Example Sentences

Since his conviction, shaken baby syndrome has been discredited in the scientific community.

From Slate

Crucial to that conviction was expert testimony on so-called “shaken baby syndrome.”

From Salon

His conviction was based on testimony that she died from “shaken baby syndrome,” a now largely discredited scientific theory.

From Slate

Barnes is not a newcomer to legal cases where shaken baby syndrome has played a key role.

From Slate

A Texas judge has blocked the execution of the first man to be put on death row in the US for murder charges related to "shaken baby syndrome", less than two hours before the capital punishment was due to be carried out.

From BBC