palpitation

noun

1. the act of palpitating.
2. an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart.

n.early 15c., from Middle French palpitation, from Latin palpitationem (nominative palpitatio), noun of action from past participle stem of palpitare “to throb, to flutter, to tremble, to quiver,” frequentative of palpare “touch gently, stroke; wheedle, coax” (see feel (v.)). n.

1. Perceptible forcible pulsation of the heart, usually with an increase in frequency or force, with or without irregularity in rhythm.