trismus

American  

[triz-muhs, tris-] / ˈtrɪz məs, ˈtrɪs- /

noun

Pathology.

plural

trismuses

1. a spasm of the jaw muscles that makes it difficult to open the mouth.

2. lockjaw.

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trismus British  

/ ˈtrɪzməs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: lockjaw.  pathol the state or condition of being unable to open the mouth because of sustained contractions of the jaw muscles, caused by a form of tetanus

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Other Word Forms

• trismic adjective

Etymology

Origin of trismus

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek trismós a grinding

Example Sentences

The woman on July 11 told doctors she had headache, jaw pain and trismus, a symptom that can mean jaw muscle spasms or locking.

From Washington Times

The clonic nature of the spasms and the entire absence of trismus serve to distinguish it from tetanus.

From Project Gutenberg

It is recommended in the above mentioned doses for delirium tremens, trismus, tetanus and kindred diseases of the nervous system, repeated every hour or half-hour until relief is obtained.

From Project Gutenberg

He rapidly developed blindness, trismus, difficulty in swallowing, and shortly lost consciousness.

From Project Gutenberg

He," said he, looking round to the doctor, "calls it 'arachnoidal trismus,'—a thing, he says, that they have all of them ignored for many a day, though Charlemagne died of it.

From Project Gutenberg