spastic colon

noun

: irritable bowel syndrome

also : a colon affected with spasms

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

spastic colon

noun

: irritable bowel syndrome

Sometimes, folks with celiac sprue are misdiagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon).

—Mitchell Hecht, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

also : a colon affected with spasms

She was excused from the jury, as was a Melville man who said he suffers from a nervous, spastic colon and feared sitting on the jury would take a toll on his health.

—Alfonso A. Castillo, Newsday