Path. [mod. L., f. L. tort-us crooked, twisted + collum neck. Cf. obs. F. torticolis.] A rheumatic or other affection of the muscles of the neck, in which it is so twisted as to keep the head turned to one side; wry-neck.
1811. Hooper, Med. Dict., Torticollis, the wry neck.
1857. Dunglison, Med. Lex., Torticollis … Stiffneck, Wryneck..., a variety of rheumatism, seated in the muscles of the neck.
1859. Semple, Diphtheria, 347. There was also painful torticollis.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 63. In cases of rheumatic torticollis there is conspicuous muscular spasm.
