the.com/palsy
A loss of muscle control, often from nerve or brain damage, that varies widely in severity.
means A condition causing loss of muscle control or involuntary tremor, often from nerve or brain damage.
from From Old French 'paralisie,' worn down from 'paralysie,' which traces straight back to the Greek 'paralysis' — a loosening or disabling at the side. The word crossed into English through medieval French mouths, losing a syllable the way a stone loses edges in a river, until 'paralysis' and 'palsy' split into two words doing similar work: one clinical, one older and homier, still used for shaking hands and 'palsied' limbs centuries later.
- origin
- from paralysis, via old french palesie
- misleading name
- bells palsy is temporary, not lifelong
- cerebral palsy
- brain-based, not a muscle or nerve disease
- shaking palsy
- parkinsons original name before 1817