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col·ic

(kŏlĭk)

1. Severe abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distension of any of the hollow viscera, such as the intestines.

2. A condition of unknown cause seen in infants less than three months old, marked by periods of inconsolable crying lasting for hours at a time for at least three weeks.

adj. (also kōlĭk)

Of, relating to, or affecting the colon.

[Middle English colik, affecting the colon, colic, from Old French colique, from Latin cōlica (passiō), (suffering) of the colon, feminine of cōlicus, from Greek kōlikos, from kolon, kōlon, colon.]

colick·y (kŏlĭ-kē) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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