Plain English Meaning
A pins-and-needles feeling in your hands, feet, or face. In flight, it can be an early sign that your body is not getting enough oxygen.
Full Definition
A prickling or pins-and-needles sensation in the skin, fingers, toes, or face that is recognized in aviation medicine as one of the early warning symptoms of hypoxia (insufficient oxygen reaching the body's tissues).
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of hypoxia symptoms, altitude flying, and oxygen-use decisions.
Derivation
From the verb 'tingle,' likely an imitative word meaning a light, ringing or stinging sensation. The word captures the small, repeated prickling feeling itself, which is why it stuck as the medical description.
Why Pilots Care
Recognizing tingling allows a pilot to suspect hypoxia early and use supplemental oxygen or descend before judgment and are impaired.