palsy

¹

[pawl-zee]

noun

plural

palsies 

1. any of a variety of atonal muscular conditions characterized by tremors of the body parts, as the hands, arms, or legs, or of the entire body.

2. paralysis.

verb (used with object)

palsied, palsying 

1. to paralyze.

palsy

²

[pal-zee]

adjective

Slang.

1. palsy-walsy.

palsy

/ ˈpɔːlzɪ /

noun

1. paralysis, esp of a specified type

   cerebral palsy

verb

1. to paralyse

Other Word Forms

• palsied adjective
• palsylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palsy¹

1250–1300; Middle English, variant of parlesie < Middle French paralisie < Latin paralysis paralysis

Origin of palsy²

First recorded in 1925–30; pal + -sy

Word History and Origins

Origin of palsy¹

C13 palesi, from Old French paralisie, from Latin _paralysis

Example Sentences

Williams is a full-time caregiver for both her daughter, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, and her sister, who is a veteran living with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

From Los Angeles Times

Her first son was born with cerebral palsy.

From BBC

For around one million young people across the UK, speech and language challenges can last a lifetime, due to conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, or hearing impairments.

From BBC

Keith Fisher, 39, has cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and hearing problems.

From BBC

Meanwhile her son found new confidence when he told strangers about his cerebral palsy for the first time.

From BBC

Related Words

• demolish 
• destroy 
• disable 
• freeze 
• halt 
• incapacitate 
• knock out 
• stun 
• weaken