nyctalopia

noun

nyc·​ta·​lo·​pia ˌnik-tə-ˈlō-pē-ə 

: night blindness

Did you know?

Nyctalopia comes to us from the Latin word nyctalops, which means "suffering from night blindness." It is ultimately derived from the Greek word nyktalops, which was formed by combining the word for "night" ("nyx") with the words for "blind" and "eye" ("alaos" and "ōps," respectively). English speakers have been using "nyctalopia" to refer to reduced vision in faint light or at night since the 17th century. We added the somewhat more pedestrian "night blindness" to the lexicon in the 18th century.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin nyctalops suffering from night blindness, from Greek nyktalops, from nykt-, nyx night + alaos blind + ōp-, ōps eye — more at night, eye

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

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Medical Definition

nyctalopia

noun

nyc·​ta·​lo·​pia ˌnik-tə-ˈlō-pē-ə 

: night blindness