muscae volitantes

plural noun

mus·​cae vo·​li·​tan·​tes ˈmə-ˌskē-ˌvä-lə-ˈtan-ˌtēz 

ˈmə-ˌsē-

: floater sense 6

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, flying flies

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

muscae volitantes

noun plural

mus·​cae vo·​li·​tan·​tes ˈməs-ˌ(k)ē-ˌväl-ə-ˈtan-ˌtēz 

: spots before the eyes due to cells and cell fragments in the vitreous body and lens compare floater