palsy

Reader's Digest 10月号の記事 "Losing My Father's Smile" から引用します。
When Bell's palsy stole Robert Golden's grin, his son made a vow to join him. A month earlier, Bell's palsy had struck Dad, paralyzing the right side of his face.
"Bell's palsy" は特有な病気もしくは病気の症状を示し、顔の麻痺などを引き起こすある病気の様です。 "palsy" はもう少し汎用的な病気もしくは病気の症状を指している様なので、最初に "palsy" を調べます。
・Oxford English Dictionary: Paralysis, especially that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors.: a kind of palsy had seized him
・Collins Dictionary: Palsy is a loss of feeling in part of your body.: cerebral palsy
なるほど、どうも語源は "paralysis" ですね。
次に "Bell's palsy" を調べます。 ・Oxford English Dictionary: Paralysis of the facial nerve, causing muscular weakness in one side of the face.: Other viral illnesses such as mumps and rubella may also trigger Bell's palsy.
いわゆる顔面神経麻痺と同じでしょうか？