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shaking palsy

noun

dated
: parkinson's disease

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaking palsy was in 1817

Browse Nearby Words

shakingly
shaking palsy
shaking prairie
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Cite this Entry

“Shaking palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaking%20palsy. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

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Medical Definition

shaking palsy

noun
shak·​ing palsy ˈshā-kiŋ- How to pronounce shaking palsy (audio)
dated
: parkinson's disease

More from Merriam-Webster on shaking palsy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shaking palsy

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