a neurological disease often resulting in weakness and paralysis of the legs: caused by eating the pealike seeds of the leguminous plant Lathyrus sativus
lathyrism in American English
(ˈlæθəˌrɪzəm)
noun
a painful, poisoned condition caused by the ingestion of certain peas (esp. genus Lathyrus) and characterized by paralysis of the legs, hyperesthesia, etc.