Meanings
nounphrenospasm (countable and uncountable, plural phrenospasms)
plural phrenospasms
- countableuncountablebiologyA blow to the chest which causes the diaphragm to go into spasm, making it difficult to draw a breath.
- countableuncountablebiologyDiaphragmatic spasm, as in hiccups.
Origin
From phreno- + spasm, from Ancient Greek φρήν (phrḗn, “diaphragm”) and σπασμός (spasmós, “spasm, convulsion”) respectively.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
phrenospasm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phrenospasm
MLA
“phrenospasm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phrenospasm. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phrenospasm,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phrenospasm.
Source: phrenospasm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.