"act of yawning," 1540s, from Late Latin oscitationem (nominative oscitatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of oscitare "to gape, yawn" (see oscitant).
Entries linking to oscitation
oscitant adj.
"sleepy, drowsy, sluggish," literally "yawning, gaping," 1620s, from Latin oscitans "listless, sluggish, lazy," present participle of oscitare "to gape, yawn," from os citare "to move the mouth" (see oral and cite). Related: Oscitancy.