palsy (adjective) – 2 : a condition that is marked by uncontrollable tremor and quivering of the body or one or more of its parts —not used technically

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palsy

I came across this word in the “city limits” essay by Colison Whitehead in the first page of the last paragraph “… as the train erupted from the tunnel on the way to 125th street and palsied up onto the elevated tracks…”

when I first came across this word nothing came to mind, I have heard the word before but never understood it’s meaning and context clues helped me understand a little bit but not to understand it fully. I decided to look it up instead of determining context clues for the full definition. I do have a sense of clarity for the word now as just a vague understanding to it.