falling sickness

Compare Old English fiellesēocnes, German Fallsucht.

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.