titubation

American  

[tich-oo-bey-shuhn] / ˌtɪtʃ ʊˈbeɪ ʃən /

noun

Pathology.

1. a disturbance of body equilibrium in standing or walking, resulting in an uncertain gait and trembling, especially resulting from diseases of the cerebellum.

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titubation British  

/ ˌtɪtjʊˈbeɪʃən /

noun

1. a disordered gait characterized by stumbling or staggering, often caused by a lesion of the cerebellum

2. Also called: lingual titubation.  stuttering or stammering

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Other Word Forms

• titubant adjective

Etymology

Origin of titubation

1635–45; < Latin titubātiōn- (stem of titubātiō ) a staggering, equivalent to titubāt ( us ), past participle of titubāre to stagger + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

I should appreciate still more,” he bowed, as he handed her a bill of fare of the journalistic proportions of the usual hotel menu, “if you would make a choice of refreshment, that we may dispense with the somewhat pathological presence of our young friend here,” he indicated the waiter afflicted with the jerking and titubation of a badly strung puppet.

From Project Gutenberg

As the camels and dromedaries of a caravan, continued Pantagruel, use to drink for the thirst that's past, for the present, and for that to come, so did Hercules; and being thus excessively raised, this gave new motion to the sky, which is that of titubation and trepidation, about which our crackbrained astrologers make such a pother.

From Project Gutenberg