Colic
/ˈkɒl.ɪk/noun
Severe, often spasmodic abdominal pain, especially in infants.
Did you know?In ancient and medieval medicine, colic was tied to the Greek word for the colon, so the pain was understood through the anatomy of the lower gut rather than any magical cause.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kōlikós
“pertaining to the colon”
Late Latin
Latin
colicus
“of the colon; suffering from bowel pain”
Old French
Old French
colique
“pain in the intestines; colic”
Middle English
English
colike
“intestinal pain, especially severe spasms”
Modern English
English
colic
“severe abdominal pain, especially in infants”