Do you speak a little French when you say 'palsy'?

'Palsy' is a word borrowed from French 'paralisie'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

palsy [noun] [14th century]

• paralysis
• a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor of the body or a part

See 'palsy' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Derived from Old French palasie which is a shortening of paralisie stemming from Latin paralysis and ultimately from Greek paralysia (paralysis loosening). It refers to paralysis or uncontrollable tremors.
Etymology: Middle English 'palesie' alteration of 'parlesey' from Anglo-French 'paralisie' from Latin 'paralysis'

See more loan words from 1300s.