tetanus Definition

tetanus
noun

1. pathol.
An infectious and potentially fatal disease, caused by the release of toxins from a bacterium, the spores of which are found in soil. Its main symptoms are fever and painful muscle spasms especially of the mouth and facial muscles. Also called lockjaw.
2. physiol.
Any state of prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated stimuli.

Etymology: 14c: from Greek tetanos, from teinein to stretch.