| petit mal | (n) a seizure of short duration characterized by momentary unconsciousness and local muscle spasms or twitching, Syn. epilepsia minor, Example: the girl was frightened by her first petit mal |
| petit mal epilepsy | (n) epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities), Syn. epilepsia minor, petit mal, Example: she has been suffering from petit mal since childhood |