sciatica

What it means

1. countableuncountablemedicineNeuralgia of the sciatic nerve, characterised by pain radiating down through the buttocks and the back of the thigh.

   1 more example

   He picked up his own phone, shunned limos and preferred to walk if possible (sciatica later caused him to use a wheelchair) – as, for example, on the day after his election when he slipped away on foot to collect his suitcase and settle the bill at the modest pensione where he had been booked in before the conclave began.

   2025 April 21, Peter Stanford, “Pope Francis obituary”, in The Guardian

In a sentence

He picked up his own phone, shunned limos and preferred to walk if possible (sciatica later caused him to use a wheelchair) – as, for example, on the day after his election when he slipped away on foot to collect his suitcase and settle the bill at the modest pensione where he had been booked in before the conclave began.

2025 April 21, Peter Stanford, “Pope Francis obituary”, in The Guardian

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekἰσχιαδικός
2. Late Latinsciatica
3. Englishsciatica

Late Middle English, from Late Latin sciatica, feminine of sciaticus, from Ancient Greek ἰσχιαδικός (iskhiadikós), the adjective of ἰσχίον (iskhíon, “hip”).