Mucchañcikatā (°añji°) is probably the correct reading for puñcikatā. — We find puñcikatā at Dhs 1136, 1230; Vibh 351, 361 (v.l. pucchañji°); As 365; mucchañci° at Nidd I 8 and Nidd II page 152; pucchañji° at Vibh-a 477. The meaning is "agitation," as seen from explanation of term at As 365 ("wagging of a dog's tail," pucchaṃ cāleti), and Vibh-a 477 ("lābhanālābhanaka-ṭhāne vedhanā kampanā nīcavuttatā"). — The etymological explanation is difficult; we may take it as a (misunderstood) corruption of *mucch-aṅgi-kata i.e. mucchā + aṅga + kr̥ "being made stiff-of-limbs," or "swoon." Psychologically we may take "swoon" as the climax of agitation, almost like "hysterics." A similar case of a similar term of swooning being interpreted by Buddhaghosa as "wavering" (cal) is chambhitatta "paralysis," explained as "sakalasarīra calanaṃ" at Sv I 50. — The expression mucchañcikatā reminds us of the term kaṭukañcukatā.