word of the day: nystagmus

The word of the day is nystagmus:

Etymology:  < post-classical Latin nystagmus a rapid involuntary movement of the eyeball (F. Boissier de Sauvages Nosologia Methodica (1768)) < ancient Greek νυσταγμός nodding, drowsiness < the base of νυστάζειν to nod, to be sleepy ( < the same Indo-European base as Lithuanian snūsti (stem snūd-) to begin to doze, grow drowsy) + -μος, suffix forming nouns.

Med.

1. Involuntary, rapid, oscillating movement of the eyeballs (most commonly from side to side); an instance or type of this. (OED)

"Just before 2 A.M. on March 5, 2010, Kyle was driving alone in central Dallas, near Love Field, when he lost control of his truck and crashed into a wooden fence, nearly ending up in someone’s swimming pool. A policeman found Kyle with 'bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, breath smelling of alcoholic beverage, unsteady balance and nystagmus.' Kyle told him, 'I’m stupid. I was drinking and driving. I missed the turn. It was my fault.'"

 - Nicholas Schmidle, "In the crosshairs", 3 June 2013 The New Yorker