Etymology Dictionary

PALPABLE,  that can be felt, obvious.  (F.,—L.)   In Macb. ii. 1. 40.—F. palpable, omitted by Cotgrave, but in use in the 15th century (Littré), and given by Palsgrave, who has:  'Palpable, apte or mete to be felte, palpable;' see Halliwell.—Lat. palpabilis, that can be touched.—Lat. palpare, to feel, palpari, to feel, handle.   β. An initial s has been lost; as shewn by the related Gk. ψηλαφάω, I feel, from the base SPAL; see Curtius, ii. 403.   Moreover, the orig. sense of palpare was 'to quiver,' as shewn by the derivatives palp-ebra, that which quivers, the eye-lid, and palpitare, to quiver often, to throb.   By comparing Skt. sphal, sphar, to quiver, tremble, palpitate, we derive all from ✔SPAR, to quiver.   Fick, i. 831.   Der. palpabl-y, palpable-ness, palpabili-ty.   And see palpitate.