Where does “palsy” come from?
Palsy comes from English pal, derived from Latin paralysis, which combines Latin -ia with Latin -ivus and Ancient Greek λύω.
palsy (English): Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body...
Definitions
- Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body...
Ancestry of “palsy”, step by step
palsy traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Swedish päls
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | päls | fur, coat; fur coat |
| 2 | Finnish | palsa | palsa; long overcoat |
| 3 | Finnish | palttoo | A long overcoat |
| 4 | Russian | пальто́ | overcoat, greatcoat, carrick |
| 5 | French | paletot | jacket |
| 6 | Spanish | paletoque | mantlet, short cape |
| 7 | Latin | palla | A rectangular piece of cloth worn by ladies in... |
| 8 | Frankish | ball | — |
| 9 | Northern Sami | bállu | testicle, ball |
| 10 | Northern Sami | ballát | to become scared |
| 11 | Proto-Samic | pëlājëtēk | to become scared |
| 12 | Proto-Samic | pëlëtēk | to fear |
| 13 | Proto-Uralic | pele- | to fear |
via Middle English palesie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | palesie | — |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | paralisie | paralysis |
| 3 | Latin | paralysis | paralysis, palsy |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | παράλυσις | paralysis |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | παραλύω | to weaken, to cause sickness or illness |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πᾰρᾰ- | near; next to; by, near |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | παρά | |
| 8 | Latin | verēdus | A fast or light breed of horse; courier's horse; hunter |
| 9 | Gaulish | werēdos | horse |
| 10 | Proto-Celtic | *uɸoreidos | horse |