from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ataxia \A*tax"i*a\, Ataxy \At"ax*y\, n. [NL. ataxia, Gr. ?, fr.
? out of order; 'a priv. + ? ordered, arranged, ? to put in
order: cf. F. ataxie.]
1. Disorder; irregularity. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Med.)
(a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions.
(b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous
fevers and the nervous condition. [archaic]
[1913 Webster]
3. (Med.) Loss of coordination in the voluntary muscles,
especially the limbs; an inability to coordinate voluntary
muscle movements; it results in unsteady movements and a
staggering gait. See also {locomotor ataxia}, an ataxia
which occurs when attempting to perform coordinated
muscular movements.
Syn: ataxy
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
{Locomotor ataxia}. See {Locomotor}.
[1913 Webster]