falling sickness

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English

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Etymology

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Compare Old English fiellesēocnes, German Fallsucht.

Noun

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falling sickness (uncountable)

  1. (archaic) Epilepsy.
    • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
      Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.
      Brutus. 'T is very like: he hath the falling sickness.

Translations

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