bathmophobia

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βαθμός (bathmós, “step”) +‎ -phobia.

Noun

bathmophobia (uncountable)

1. The fear of stairs and steep slopes.
   • 2011, Martin Bodek, The Year of Bad Behavior: Bearing Witness to the Uncouthiest of Humanity, Lulu.com, published 2011, →ISBN, page 16:

     It is closely related to bathmophobia, which is a fear of stairs or steep slopes, and climacophobia, which is a fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling down stairs.

   • 2011 November 10, Claire Bates, “Mother once forced to go down shopping centre steps on her BOTTOM finally overcomes fear of stairs after 38 years”, in Daily Mail:

     Bathmophobia, as with other clinical fears, is generally not diagnosed in children unless it persists for more than six months.

   • 2012, Edward Berenson, The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story, Yale University Press, published 2012, →ISBN, page 180:

     For visitors falling ill or who are prone to acrophobia (fear of heights) or bathmophobia (fear of stairs), restoration workers installed a tiny emergency elevator to enable Park Service rangers to ascend quickly all the way to Liberty's neck and then spirit people out.

Synonyms

• climacophobia