The spelling of the phrase "muscular stiffenings" can be a bit tricky. The word "muscular" is spelled as it sounds, with the emphasis on the first syllable. However, "stiffenings" has a few consonant clusters that can be difficult to pronounce. The "ff" sound at the beginning of "stiffenings" is pronounced like a "f" sound. The "ng" sound at the end of "stiffenings" is pronounced like the "ng" in "singing". The IPA transcription of this phrase is /ˈmʌskjələr ˈstɪfənɪŋz/.
The term "muscular stiffenings" does not have a clear etymology as it is a phrase composed of two individual words.
The word "muscular" traces its origins to the Latin word "musculus", which means "little mouse" or "muscle". Over time, it evolved in English to refer to the bodies' muscles.
On the other hand, "stiffenings" derives from the verb "stiffen", which originated in Middle English. "Stiffen" is connected to the Old Norse word "stīfa" meaning "to stiffen or harden".
When combined, "muscular stiffenings" refers to the condition or process of muscles becoming rigid, inflexible, or tight. However, it is important to note that such a phrase might not be commonly used or have an assigned etymology as a standalone term.