A Word A Day - Vagitus

Tuesday, 26 October 2006

This week's theme: There is a word for it.

vagitus

(vuh-JI-tuhs) noun

The cry of a newborn.

[From Latin vagire (to wail).]

A newborn child's cry is called vagitus. Babies' cries have been heard even before their births. It's rare but vagitus uterinus has been observed on occasions when the membranes rupture, allowing air to enter the uterine cavity.

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