globus hystericus

noun

Globus (lump in the throat) when believed (by the speaker or writer) to be psychosomatic (hysterical).

OriginLatin globus →
First used 18th c.
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Meanings

nounglobus hystericus (uncountable)
  1. datedproscribeduncountablemedicineGlobus (lump in the throat) when believed (by the speaker or writer) to be psychosomatic (hysterical).First known use 18th c.

    A careful evaluation of a patient with globus hystericus, possibly with the assistance of X-ray or laryngoscopy evidence, reveals no anatomical evidence of upper respiratory obstruction.

    2001, Stephen T. Holgate, Martin Church, Lawrence M. Lichtenstein, editors, Allergy, page 168
    1 more example

    Something which could later be interpreted as hysteria – a disorder marked by palpitations, migratory pain, breathing difficulties and the globus hystericus – might be attributed to a wandering uterus.

    1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society, published 2016, page 78

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
globus

Origin

  1. Latinglobus“globe”
  2. Englishglobus hystericus

Scientific Latin, from Latin globus (“globe”) + hystericus (“hysteric”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

globus hystericus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/globus%20hystericus

MLA

“globus hystericus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/globus%20hystericus. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “globus hystericus,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/globus%20hystericus.

Source: globus hystericus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.