tic douloureux

[ tik doo-luh-roo; French teek doo-loo-rœ ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. paroxysmal darting pain and muscular twitching in the face, evoked by rubbing certain points of the face.

tic douloureux

/ ˈtɪk ˌduːləˈruː /

noun

1. a condition of momentary stabbing pain along the trigeminal nerve Also calledtrigeminal neuralgia

Word History and Origins

Origin of tic douloureux¹

1790–1800; < French: literally, painful tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of tic douloureux¹

C19: from French, literally: painful tic

Example Sentences

Used in neuralgia, especially in that of the face (tic douloureux).

From Project Gutenberg

And oh, she did hope her mother wouldn't have tic douloureux and wear shawls over her head.

From Project Gutenberg

We had heard a great deal of his curing a blacksmith of tic-douloureux by mesmerizing him.

From Project Gutenberg

How often has it warned me, that when man goes "on tick," it always ends in a kind of "Tic douloureux."

From Project Gutenberg

In these cases the condition is undoubtedly one of painful facial spasm, inaccurately and unfortunately styled "tic douloureux."

From Project Gutenberg