First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1palsy
noun pal·sy \ˈpȯl-zē\
medical : a medical condition that causes your body or part of your body to shake uncontrollably
plural palsies
Full Definition of PALSY
1
2
: a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor of the body or a part
See palsy defined for English-language learners
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Origin of PALSY
Middle English palesie, alteration of parlesey, from Anglo-French paralisie, from Latin paralysis
Related to PALSY
- Synonyms
- paralysis
Rhymes with PALSY
2palsy
verb
pal·siedpal·sy·ing
Definition of PALSY
transitive verb
: to affect with or as if with palsy
First Known Use of PALSY
1615
3palsy
adjective \ˈpal-zē\
Definition of PALSY
See palsy defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PALSY
1951
Related to PALSY
- Synonyms
- amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, matey [chiefly British], neighborly, friendly, palsy-walsy [slang], warm, warmhearted
- Antonyms
- antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly
PALSY Defined for Kids
palsy
noun pal·sy \ˈpȯl-zē\
Definition of PALSY for Kids
1
2
: an uncontrollable trembling of the body or a part of the body
Medical Dictionary
palsy
noun pal·sy \ˈpȯl-zē\
plural pal·sies
Medical Definition of PALSY
1
: paralysis—used chiefly in combination <oculomotor palsy>; see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is characterized by uncontrollable tremor or quivering of the body or one or more of its parts—not used technically
Learn More About PALSY
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Next Word in the Dictionary: palsy–walsyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: palsterAll Words Near: palsy
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