Writheneck

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Wryneck \Wry"neck\, n. (Med.)
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck
        is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the
        muscles of the neck; torticollis.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. a person suffering from torticollis.
        [PJC]
  
     3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of Old World birds of
        the genus {Jynx} or subfamily {Jynginae}, allied to the
        woodpeckers; especially, the common European species
        ({Jynx torguilla}); -- so called from its habit of turning
        the neck around in different directions. Called also
        {cuckoo's mate}, {snakebird}, {summer bird}, {tonguebird},
        and {writheneck}.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]