▪ I. sciatic, a.1 and n.
(saɪˈætɪk)
Forms: 6 scyatyke, sc(h)iaticke, syaticke, 7 sciatique, (seatick), 7–8 sciatick, 8– sciatic.
[a. F. sciatique, ad. med.L. sciatic-us, corrupt form of L. ischiadic-us (see ischiadic). Cf. Pr. sciatic, Sp. ciático, Pg., It. sciatico.]
A. adj.
1. Affecting the hip or the sciatic nerves.
| [1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. lvii. (1495) 271 It helpith them moche that haue this euyll that hyghte Sciatica passio. 1547 Boorde Brev. Health xxiii. 9 A gout or a syaticke passion. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 4926 Off Malideis it generis mony mo,..As, in the theis, Siatica Passio.] 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 225 Sciaticke goutes. 1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xlvi. IV. 429 His body was tortured with sciatic pains. |
2. Of or belonging to the ischium or hip.
sciatic artery, the larger of the two terminal branches of the internal iliac; it is distributed to the muscles of the back part of the pelvis. sciatic nerve, each of the two divisions of the sacral plexus, esp. the great sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the human body; it emerges from the pelvis and passing down the back of the thigh extends to the foot. sciatic notch, each of the two notches on the posterior border of the hip bone. sciatic vein, † (a) the sciatic artery (obs.); (b) ? each of the companion veins of the sciatic artery.
| [c 1400 Lanfranc's Chirurg. ii. x. 177 Þat oon veyne þerof is clepid sciatica, & þat oþere is clepid renalis.] 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 30/1 The third is the Schiaticke vayn, which externallye demonstrateth her selfe above the anckle. 1656 Blount Glossogr. s.v. Vein, Sciatique vein..is a branch of the thigh vein, which descends down the leg to the outward ankle. 1741 Monro Anat. Nerves (ed. 3) 69 The largest Nerve..of the Body..is..known by the Name of Sciatic or Ischiatic Nerve. 1780 Phil. Trans. LXX. App. 32 Having laid bare the sciatic nerve of a rabbit. 1828 R. Knox Cloquet's Anat. 117 The other two notches are situated..between the sciatic tuberosity and the sacrum. They are named the Sciatic notches. 1836–9 Todd's Cycl. Anat. II. 250/1 The alteration in the condition of the sciatic artery..caused by ligature of the femoral..artery presents..remarkable results..: its branch to the sciatic nerve becomes greatly enlarged. 1881 Mivart Cat 213 The sciatic artery, which passes out of the pelvis at the great sciatic notch. |
B. n.
† 1. The ischium or hip. Obs.
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. L j b, That [sc. the joint] of the lytell fote is moste dyffycyll [to set], & that of the kne is more, and the scyatyke is meane. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Coxa, the hippe or huckle bone..Sometime the sciatike. |
† 2. = sciatica. Obs.
| 1656 Cowley Davideis i. Note 32 Baptista Porta..says, that..Sciatique [is to be cured] by a Musical Instrument made of Poplar. 1678 Jas. Duke of Albany in 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. viii. 232 The fitt of the seatick came so violently on me, that I am forced to make vse of my wifes hand, not beein able to writ myselfe. 1737 Pope Hor. Ep. i. vi. 54 Rack'd with Sciatics, martyr'd with the Stone. 1801 Ranken Hist. France I. i. v. 76 Marcellus the empiric..mentions with distinction a remedy for the sciatic, or hip-gout. |
3. Short for sciatic nerve, vein.
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. M iij, And there be .viij. [veynes to be let blode] in the fete, two on the knees, two sopheynes, two scyatykes, [etc.]. 1741 Munro Anat. Nerves (ed. 3) 70 The two Crurals, with the Sciatic..are distributed to the inferior Extremities. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 667 If one sciatic is paralysed alone, the patient can still walk. |
▪ II. sciatic, a.2 Naut. ? Obs.
(saɪˈætɪk)
Also 8 skiatic.
[Of obscure origin: cf. triatic a.]
Only in sciatic stay (see quot. 1805).
Not known to the English nautical experts consulted.
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 175 Skiatic-stays are ropes used for hoisting or lowering burdens in or out of ships. 1805 Mariner's Dict. (Washington, U.S.), Sciatic Stay, a strong rope fixed from the main to the foremast heads in merchant ships; when loading or unloading it serves to sustain a tackle, which, travelling upon it, may be shifted over the main or fore hatchways. [Hence 1815 in Falconer's Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), and in some later Dicts.] |