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

• palsylike adjective
• palsied 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

"It was a stark reminder that my cerebral palsy makes me stand out, and is often used as a weapon against me."

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The injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with the body, leading to conditions such as epilepsy, which causes seizures, or cerebral palsy, which affects movement and coordination.

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Mr. Davenport, who makes films “about disability” according to his website, also makes them from the perspective of the disabled—he has cerebral palsy and often uses a wheelchair.

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Meanwhile Billy, 23, who has cerebral palsy, had to fight two tribunals challenging his local authority to fund his place at National Star.

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Born with cerebral palsy, he had tried other sports like table tennis and basketball but for him wheelchair rugby was a natural fit.

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Related Words

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