The use of âholidayâ to mean âa missed spotâ appears to be that rarity in English etymology, a word or phrase that actually has a nautical origin. The original use of âholidayâ in the âmissed a spotâ sense, back in the 18th century, was in reference to crew members painting the decks of a ship or âpayingâ (sealing seams with tar or pitch) its hull.
The knee jerk reflex is when a tendon above the kneecap is tapped with a reflex hammer, which causes the whole leg to involuntarily jerk.
patellar reflex; knee-jerk reflex; quadriceps reflex sudden contraction of anterior-thigh muscle group (quadriceps) and resultant lower-limb 'kick' action due to brief knee joint extension; induced by transitory lengthening/percussion of patellar tendon at midpoint, 2 cm inferior to inferior border of patella when leg is relaxed and hanging pendulously from 90Â° flexed knee; demonstrates normal L4 function