twilight sleep

noun

, Medicine/Medical.

1. a state of semiconsciousness, usually produced by hypodermic injections of scopolamine and morphine, used chiefly to effect relatively painless childbirth.

twilight sleep

noun

1. med a state of partial anaesthesia in which the patient retains a slight degree of consciousness

Word History and Origins

Origin of twilight sleep¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The "twilight-sleep" injections are not started until the patient is in the stage of active labor.

From Project Gutenberg