death-stiffness

noun

Temporary stiffness of the body's muscles and joints following death; rigor mortis.

Meanings

noundeath-stiffness (uncountable)

alternative death stiffness

  1. uncountableTemporary stiffness of the body's muscles and joints following death; rigor mortis.

    Before death stiffness occurs in the hind parts, generally in one hip or leg; the head and ears droop, and dullness and stupor are observed.

    1878, United States. Dept. of Agriculture, Report - Page 517
    1 more example

    If the muscles of cold-blooded animals are heated to a temperature of 40° C, the " warmth-rigidity" (Wärmestarre), a condition very similar to death-stiffness, is superinduced. The cause of the death-stiffness and warmth-stiffness, is in the fact that certain fluid ingredients [...]

    1869, The Student, and Intellectual Observer, volume 2, page 146

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

death-stiffness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death-stiffness

MLA

“death-stiffness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death-stiffness. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “death-stiffness,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death-stiffness.

Source: death-stiffness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.