a congenital deficiency of thyroid secretion with resulting deformity and mental deficiency
Origin:
Fr crétinisme: see cretin
See cretinism in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A congenital condition caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone during prenatal development and characterized in childhood by dwarfed stature, mental retardation, dystrophy of the bones, and a low basal metabolism. Also called congenital myxedema.