Where does “palsy-walsy” come from?
palsy-walsy (English) comes from English pal, from Romani pal, from Romani phral, from Sanskrit भ्रातृ, from Proto-Indo-Aryan bʰráHtā, from Proto-Indo-Iranian bʰráHtā, from Proto-Indo-European bʰréh₂tēr — brother.
palsy-walsy (English): Very friendly, especially in an excessive or...
Definitions
- Very friendly, especially in an excessive or...
Ancestry of “palsy-walsy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | pal | A friend, buddy, mate, cobber; someone to hang... |
| 2 | Romani | pal | — |
| 3 | Romani | phral | brother |
| 4 | Sanskrit | भ्रातृ | brother; kinsman, relative; friend |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | bʰráHtā | brother |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | bʰráHtā | brother |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰréh₂tēr | brother |