# Peristalsis

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peristalsis/122693>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peristalsis/122693 "2002-08-06T23:30:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peristalsis/122693/1 "2002-08-06T23:30:50Z")

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Why didn’t Cecil define that word in his answer to yesterday’s question?

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**Author:** ![NiNjAmAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NiNjAmAn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiNjAmAn)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peristalsis/122693/2 "2002-08-07T00:30:26Z")

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per·i·stal·sis &nbsp;&nbsp;Pronunciation Key&nbsp;&nbsp;(pr-stôlss, -stl-)  
n. pl. per·i·stal·ses (-sz)

The wavelike muscular contractions of the alimentary canal or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.