lockjaw

Everyday

1. An old everyday name for tetanus, a serious illness caused by germs getting into a wound, which makes muscles go stiff. tree →
2. A tight cramp of the jaw muscles so that the mouth will not open properly. tree →

In the lessons

In health and safety lessons, children learn that a deep cut from a rusty nail or dirty soil can let tetanus germs in; the illness is sometimes called lockjaw because the jaw muscles lock. Vaccines (jabs) protect against it. Phrases: get lockjaw, a tetanus jab.

Examples

• Tetanus is also called lockjaw. tree →
• The nurse gave me a jab to protect me from lockjaw. tree →
• Lockjaw makes the jaw muscles go stiff. tree →
• Clean any cut from a rusty nail and tell an adult. tree →
• In the old days many farmers caught lockjaw. tree →
• Grandad said, «Mind that nail or you'll get lockjaw!» tree →
• Vaccines have made lockjaw rare in many countries. tree →

Note

Uncountable. The medical name is tetanus. Myth: rust itself does not cause it; germs in soil and dirt do, and rusty objects are often dirty. A wound that might have tetanus germs needs a doctor.