Tic
/tɪk/noun
A sudden, repetitive, involuntary movement or sound.
Did you know?English borrowed tic through French, while related Germanic forms referred to a tap or light touch—making the word almost sound like the motion itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic period
Proto-Germanic
*tik-
“A reconstructed imitative root associated with a light touch, tap, or quick movement.”
Middle Dutch
Middle Dutch
tik
“A touch, tap, or light stroke.”
17th Century
French
tic
“A sudden, involuntary muscular movement; probably borrowed from a Germanic source.”
17th Century
English
tic
“An involuntary twitch or habitual movement.”
Modern English
English
tic
“A recurrent involuntary movement or vocalization, including motor and vocal tics.”