Pickwickian syndrome

or Pickwick syndrome


noun Pathology.

an abnormality characterized by extreme obesity accompanied by sleepiness, hypoventilation, and polycythemia.

Origin of Pickwickian syndrome

First recorded in 1955–60; named for Joe, a character in Dickens' The Pickwick Papers who exhibited symptoms of the disorder

Medical definitions for pickwickian syndrome

pickwickian syndrome
[ pĭk-wĭkē-ən ]

n.

A syndrome characterized by extreme obesity, hypoventilation, and general debility.