Word of the Day
: April 11, 2020pandiculation
playWhat It Means
: a stretching and stiffening especially of the trunk and extremities (as when fatigued and drowsy or after waking from sleep)
pandiculation in Context
"And finally pandiculation, a brain reflex action pattern similar to how a dog gets up from rest, putting his front paws out and lengthening his back as he relaxes his belly. Pandiculation can wake up the muscular system at the brain level and provide deep relaxation." — Jennifer Nelson, Mother Nature Network, 18 Sept. 2017
"Yawning is often accompanied by stretching of the body. This is called pandiculation. Humans yawn and so do animals, like dogs, chimpanzees, baboons and horses." — The Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York), 26 Apr. 2015
Did You Know?
Cat and dog owners who witness daily their pets' methodical body stretching upon awakening might wonder if there is a word to describe their routine—and there is: pandiculation. Pandiculation (which applies to humans too) is the medical term for the stretching and stiffening of the trunk and extremities, often accompanied by yawning, to arouse the body when fatigued or drowsy. The word comes from Latin pandiculatus, the past participle of pandiculari ("to stretch oneself"), and is ultimately derived from pandere, meaning "to spread." Pandere is also the source of expand.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Test Your Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks to complete the word for exercise involving repeated stretching and contracting of muscles, as by jumping and rebounding: pl _ _ met _ _ c _.
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