palsy

¹ American  

[pawl-zee] / ˈpɔl zi /

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.

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verb (used with object)

palsied, palsying

1. to paralyze.

palsy ² American  

[pal-zee] / ˈpæl zi /

adjective

Slang.

1. palsy-walsy.

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palsy British  

/ ˈpɔːlzɪ /

noun

1. paralysis, esp of a specified type

   cerebral palsy

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verb

1. to paralyse

Other Word Forms

• palsied adjective
• palsylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of palsy¹

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

Origin of palsy¹

First recorded in 1925–30; pal + -sy

Example Sentences

Ms. Ruhl, in addition to being one of the most inventive dramatists working today, also wrote a beautiful memoir, “Smile,” about her struggles with Bell’s palsy, a neurological disorder that affects the face muscles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Born with cerebral palsy affecting her right side, Greco competed for Australia at world championships and world cups.

From BBC

Born 24 weeks premature, she has cerebral palsy, a partial visual impairment and a shunt.

From BBC

Finn has cerebral palsy and goes to the Buddy Bear School.

From BBC

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.

From BBC

Related Words

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