Main Entry: grand mal

Pronunciation: \ˈgrän(d)-ˌmäl, ˈgräⁿ-ˌmäl, -ˌmal; ˈgran(d)-ˌmal\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, literally, great illness

Date: 1897

: severe epilepsy characterized by seizures which are initially tonic and then become clonic and by loss of consciousness; also : a seizure characteristic of grand mal