Spastic
/ˈspæs.tɪk/noun
Relating to or affected by muscle spasms; formerly used in medicine, though now often considered offensive in some contexts.
Did you know?Spastic comes from Greek spastikos, from span, meaning “to pull” or “tug,” which is the same ancient root behind a surprisingly wide family of words about drawing, stretching, and seizing.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
spastikos
“apt to draw or pull; later, relating to spasms”
Ancient Greek
Greek
span
“to draw, pull, or tear”
Late Latin
Latin
spasticus
“relating to spasms or convulsive conditions”
Late 19th Century
English
spastic
“medical term for a person affected by spasm or spastic paralysis”
Modern English
English
spastic
“relating to muscle spasm; also a term now often regarded as offensive when used as an insult”