Wry"neck (?), n. (Med.)
1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in
which the neck is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the
muscles of the neck; torticollis.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species
of Old World birds of the genus Jynx, allied to the woodpeckers;
especially, the common European species (J. torguilla); -- so called
from its habit of turning the neck around in different directions. Called
also cuckoo's mate, snakebird, summer bird,
tonguebird, and writheneck.
Wry"neck (?), n. (Med.)
1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in
which the neck is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the
muscles of the neck; torticollis.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species
of Old World birds of the genus Jynx, allied to the woodpeckers;
especially, the common European species (J. torguilla); -- so called
from its habit of turning the neck around in different directions. Called
also cuckoo's mate, snakebird, summer bird,
tonguebird, and writheneck.
