Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body...

Ancestry of “palsy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishpälsfur, coat; fur coat
2Finnishpalsapalsa; long overcoat
3FinnishpalttooA long overcoat
4Russianпальто́—
5Frenchpaletotjacket
6Spanishpaletoquemantlet, short cape
7LatinpallaA rectangular piece of cloth worn by ladies in...
8Frankishball—
9Northern Samibállutesticle, ball
10Northern Samiballátto become scared
11Proto-Samicpëlājëtēkto become scared
12Proto-Samicpëlëtēkto fear
13Proto-Uralicpele-to fear

Words derived from “palsy”

  • palsywort
  • palsylike
  • impalsy
  • palsical
Every word from Proto-Uralic pele- →