formication

[ fawr-mi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. a tactile hallucination involving the belief that something is crawling on the body or under the skin.

formication

/ ˌfɔːmɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. a sensation of insects crawling on the skin; symptom of a nerve disorder

Word History and Origins

Origin of formication¹

1700–10; < Latin (Pliny) formīcātiōn-, stem of formīcātiō a sensation that ants are crawling on one's skin, equivalent to formicā ( re ) to have such a sensation (verbal derivative of formīca ant) + -tiōn- -tion

Example Sentences

Marked digital formication existed, but the arthritic pains were not so severe as in ordinary cases.

From Project Gutenberg

It will usually be avoided readily by observing that in relapsing fever there are great nausea, repeated vomiting, insomnia, peculiar formication of the extremities, jaundice, early enlargement of the liver and spleen, with abdominal pain and soreness, and a tendency to epistaxis; and, further, that despite the high temperature, cerebral symptoms such as result from rheumatic hyperpyrexia are not threatened, except in grave typhoid cases or just preceding the crisis.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon, however, with a sense of formication a local yellowish or livid erysipelatoid inflammation appears, by preference on the softer parts of the face, the nose, eyelids, cheeks, or on one of the principal joints, the shoulder, elbow, or knee.

From Project Gutenberg

Sensation of formication in the calves of the legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Pin′work, to work flax-yarn on a wooden pin so as to make it more supple for ease in packing.—Pin-fire cartridge, a cartridge for breech-loading guns; Pins and needles, a feeling as of pricking under the skin, formication.—In merry pin, in a merry humour; On one's pins, on one's legs: in good condition.

From Project Gutenberg