corridorclock
/ˈkɒrɪdɔːˌklɒk/nounVerified NewThe dilated, schedule-less time patients experience in clinic waiting areas, where the booked slot dissolves into an indefinite "you'll be seen."
A 14:20 appointment means nothing once you sit down: the board never updates, the receptionist says "not long now," and your sense of duration quietly detaches from the wall clock. Waiting rooms run on their own time, and everyone inside agrees not to mention it. Corridorclock is why a "quick blood test" can consume a whole morning.
Etym. — corridor + clock — the institutional clock that keeps time for corridors and waiting rooms rather than for appointments.
Rel. — waitlag
Novelty check: NEW · checked 2026-11-08
review evidence: wordstoreview/review-batch-3-06-health.md
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Method: Editorial batch review — per-word exact-form web search (WebSearch/Tavily) per docs/REVIEW-criteria.md §2