lathyrism

noun

lath·​y·​rism ˈla-thə-ˌri-zəm 

: a neurotoxic disorder chiefly affecting people and domestic animals (such as cows and horses) that is characterized especially by irreversible spastic paralysis of the hind or lower limbs and that results from poisoning by an amino acid found in the seeds of some legumes (genus Lathyrus and especially L. sativus)

lathyritic

ˌla-thə-ˈri-tik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French lathyrisme, from New Latin Lathyrus, genus name (going back to Late Latin, "the legume Lathyrus sativus," borrowed from Greek láthyros, of obscure origin) + French -isme -ism

First Known Use

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lathyrism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Medical Definition

lathyrism

noun

lath·​y·​rism ˈlath-ə-ˌriz-əm 

: a neurotoxic disorder chiefly affecting people and domestic animals (such as cows and horses) that is characterized especially by irreversible spastic paralysis of the hind or lower limbs and that results from poisoning by an amino acid found in some legumes of the genus Lathyrus (especially L. sativus)