lockjaw

(läkjô′)

noun

tetanus (sense )

Origin: short for earlier locked jaw

See lockjaw in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. See tetanus.
  2. An early sign of tetanus, in which the jaw is locked closed because of a tonic spasm of the muscles of mastication. Also called trismus.

Learn more about lockjaw

link/cite print suggestion box