The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dropsy \Drop"sy\, n.; pl. Dropsies. [OE. dropsie, dropesie, OF. idropisie, F. hydropisie, L. hydropisis, fr. Gr. ? dropsy, fr. ? water. See Water, and cf. Hydropsy.] (Med.) An unnatural collection of serous fluid in any serous cavity of the body, or in the subcutaneous cellular tissue. --Dunglison. [1913 Webster]