lockjaw

An early sign of tetanus, in which there is difficulty opening the jaw because of a tonic spasm of the muscles of mastication.

In pathology, tetanus; trismus. See tetanus.

A contraction of the muscles of the jaw by which its motion is suspended; a variety of tetanus; trismus.

A spasmodic, nervous system disease brought on by the tetanus bacteria. It causes muscles to seize up and may cause death by suffocation.

an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages