Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Severe abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera, such as the intestines.
- n. A condition of unknown cause seen in infants less than three months old, marked by periods of inconsolable crying lasting for hours at a time for at least three weeks.
- adj. Of, relating to, or affecting the colon.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In pathology, severe spasms of pain in the abdomen or bowels; specifically, spasms of pain arising from perverted and excessive peristaltic contractions.
- In anatomy, pertaining to the colon or large intestine: as, a colic artery.
- Affecting the bowels.
Wiktionary
- n. : A term for severe pains which grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains (due to intestinal or bowel related problems).
- n. A medicinal plant used to relieve one of such symptoms.
- adj. Referring to the colon.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen, due to spasm, obstruction, or distention of some one of the hollow viscera.
- adj. Of or pertaining to colic; affecting the bowels.
- adj. Of or pertaining to the colon.
WordNet 3.0
- n. acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
Etymologies
- Middle English colik, affecting the colon, colic, from Old French colique, from Latin cōlica (passiō), (suffering) of the colon, feminine of cōlicus, from Greek kōlikos, from kolon, kōlon, colon.
Examples
“An inconsolable baby is the first image that the term colic may bring to mind.”
“So it would appear that in Dr Carl's view at least as of today what we call colic is really "cervical spine subluxation", which chiropractors claim they can treat.”
“In the past, this fussy period was called colic, defined as three or more crying episodes each week for three or more weeks, with each episode lasting three hours or longer.21”
“Treatment of colic is specific to the cause, which may include overfeeding or emotional distress.”
“And for those who try everything and nothing works, consult your pediatrician, there could be reflux sometimes called colic, or any number of digestive disorders that could be waking your baby.”
The Huffington Post: Dr. Michael J. Breus: Is Your Baby's Sleep Normal?
“First of all, if your child has colic, which is miserable for both the child and the parent, chamomile tea can help according to these pediatricians.”
“[13] In olden times, empirical healers or physicians cured with this stone the pain or sickness called colic -- _hijada_, as it was then written, now _ijada_.”
“Sudden and severe lung symptoms, without previous discharge, point to an abscess between the lungs, in the mediastinum; colic, which is often continuous for days, is the result of the formation of an abscess in some part of the abdominal cavity, usually in the mesentery.”
“I would e'en take it for sublime, did I not know that the colic is a noisy malady.”
“Gastric reflux and protein allergies are among conditions that can cause digestive upsets and crying spells in babies, and are often mistakenly called colic.”
Lists
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yarb Citation on bedlamite. Sep 11, 2008