spastic

English

Etymology

Latin spasticus, from Ancient Greek σπαστικός (spastikos, “drawing in”). Confer French spastique and see also spasm.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈspastɪk/
• (US) IPA: /ˈspæstɪk/
• Rhymes: -æstɪk

Adjective

spastic (comparative more spastic, superlative most spastic)

1. (pathology) Of, relating to, or affected by spasm.
2. (pathology) Of or relating to spastic paralysis.
3. (slang, pejorative) Clumsy.
4. (slang, pejorative) Hyperactive, excited, and acting in a random manner.

Translations

of, relating to, or affected by spasm

• Finnish: spastinen (fi)

• Swedish: spastisk (sv)

of or relating to spastic paralysis

• Finnish: spastinen (fi)
• French: handicapé moteur (fr)

• Swedish: spastisk (sv)

clumsy

• Finnish: tohelo (fi)

hyperactive, excited, and random manner

Noun

spastic (plural spastics)

1. A person affected by spastic paralysis or spastic cerebral palsy.
2. (slang, offensive) A stupid, clumsy person.

Translations

person affected by spastic paralysis or spastic cerebral palsy

• Finnish: spastikko (fi)

• Swedish: spastiker (sv) c

clumsy person

• Finnish: tohelo (fi)

• Polish: niezdara (pl) m

one who is hyperactive

Derived terms

• spack
• spacker
• spaz, spazz

Usage notes

The word is perceived as relatively inoffensive in the United States, but extremely offensive in the United Kingdom.

References

• spastic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “spastic” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Anagrams

• cat piss