Relating to involuntary muscle contractions or stiffness; also used (offensively) to describe clumsy or jerky movements.
From Greek 'spastikos,' derived from 'spaein' meaning 'to pull or draw.' Medically it describes muscle rigidity, particularly in cerebral palsy and spastic colon conditions.
This word is considered a slur in modern British English, though it's still used medically—a reminder that words change meaning and acceptability as we learn more about the people they describe.
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