nar·co·lep·sy (när'kə-lěp'sē) n.
pl.nar·co·lep·sies A disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable, though often brief, attacks of deep sleep, sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations. nar'co·lep'tic (-lěp'tĭk) adj.
1880, from Fr. narcolepsie, coined 1880 by Fr. physician Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Gélineau (1859-1928) from comb. form of Gk. narke "numbness, stupor" (see narcotic) + lepsis "an attack, seizure."
narcolepsy nar·co·lep·sy (när'kə-lěp'sē) n. A disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable, though often brief, attacks of deep sleep, sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations. Also called hypnolepsy.