spasmodic tic

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tic \Tic\, n. [F.] (Med.)
   A local and habitual convulsive motion of certain muscles;
   especially, such a motion of some of the muscles of the face;
   twitching; velication; -- called also {spasmodic tic}.
   --Dunglison.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Tic douloureux}. [F., fr. tic a knack, a twitching +
      douloureux painful.] (Med.) Neuralgia in the face; face
      ague. See under {Face}.
      [1913 Webster]