Vellicate
/ˈvɛlɪkeɪt/noun
To twitch, irritate, or stimulate by lightly touching or plucking.
Did you know?Medical writers use “vellicate” for involuntary twitching, while its Latin ancestor was associated with physically plucking or tugging something.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“To pluck, tear, or pull”
Classical Latin
Latin
vellere
“To pluck, pull, or tear out”
Classical Latin
Latin
vellicare
“To pluck or twitch repeatedly; to irritate by touching”
Late Latin
Latin
vellicare
“To stimulate or irritate by light touching”
17th Century
English
vellicate
“To twitch or cause to twitch; to stimulate by light pinching”
Modern English
English
vellicate
“To twitch, irritate, or stimulate by lightly touching or plucking”
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