spastic

The word originates from the Greek verb span, meaning 'to draw, pull, or tear'. From this, the adjective spastikos was formed, describing something 'drawing in' or 'convulsive'. In medical Latin, spasticus was adopted to characterize the involuntary muscle contractions and tightness seen in certain neurological conditions. The modern English term retains this core medical sense of 'relating to spasms', while a later, informal and often offensive usage developed to describe clumsy or uncoordinated movement, drawing a metaphorical link to the physical symptoms.

Structure: spast (to pull, draw) + ic (adjective suffix) spast (from Greek spastikos, from span 'to draw, pull'); ic (from Latin -icus, from Greek -ikos, forming adjectives meaning 'pertaining to').