Panic

n. [Fr. terreur panique, It. terrore panico, Sp. panico, Gr. τὸ Πανικόν, with or without δεῖμα, fear. See infra.] A sudden fright; especially, a sudden fright without real cause, or terror inspired by a trifling cause or misapprehension of danger; as, the troops were seized with a panic; they fled in a panic.

a. [Fr. panique, Sp. & It. panico, Gr. πανικός, belonging to Pan, because a sudden fright was ascribed to Pan, who, according to Herodotus, assisted the Athenians at Marathon by striking such a terror into the Persians. See supra.] Extreme or sudden, imaginary, and causeless;—said of fear or fright; as, panic fear.

n. [Lat. panicum.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Panicum; panic-grass; also, the grain of the panic-grass.