amok

1. A culture-bound mental disorder originally observed in Malaya in which the subject becomes dangerously maniacal (“running a.”). 2. Colloquialism denoting maniacal, wild, or uncontrolled behavior threatening injury to others. SYN: amuck. [Mayal, amoq, engaged in battle]

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amok ə-'mək, -'mäk also amuck -'mək n an episode of sudden mass assault against people or objects usu. by a single individual following a period of brooding that has traditionally been regarded as occurring esp. in Malaysian culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior occurring worldwide in numerous countries and cultures

amok also amuck adj or adv

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n.

a sudden outburst of furious and murderous aggression, directed indiscriminately at everybody in the vicinity. It is encountered particularly in certain cultures.

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(ə-mokґ) [Malay “furious attack”] a culture-specific syndrome first reported in the Malay people, almost always male, consisting of a sudden outburst of indiscriminate aggressive or homicidal fury provoked by a perceived slight or insult or possibly unprovoked (running amok). Spelled also amuck.