piblokto

or pi·block·to

[ pi-blok-toh ]

noun

, Psychology.

, plural pi·blok·tos.

1. a culture-specific syndrome occurring among traditional Inuit women, characterized by an outburst of cries or screams, the removal of clothing, and seeming possession by a bird or animal spirit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of piblokto¹

First recorded in 1955–60, piblokto is from the Inuit word pibloktoq

Example Sentences

He also began a long songwriting collaboration in the early 1980s with the keyboardist Phil Ryan, a former member of Piblokto!, that produced several albums through 2013.

From New York Times

Dog fights were hourly occurrences, and we lost a great many by the ravages of the mysterious Arctic disease, piblokto, which affects all dog life and frequently human life.

From Project Gutenberg

Poor brute, it was no use, and in a short while he commenced to develop symptoms of the dread piblokto, so in mercy he was killed.

From Project Gutenberg

Aside from rheumatism and bronchial troubles, the Eskimos are fairly healthy; but the adults are subject to a peculiar nervous affection which they call piblokto—a form of hysteria.

From Project Gutenberg

I have never known a child to have piblokto; but some one among the adult Eskimos would have an attack every day or two, and one day there were five cases.

From Project Gutenberg