Etymology

From Jacques de la Palisse (a French nobleman and military officer) +‎ -iano. His epitaph, carrying the words ‎“if he weren't dead, he would still be envied” (French: s'il n'était pas mort, il ferait encore envie), was misread as the truism ‎“if he weren't dead, he would still be alive” (s'il n'était pas mort, il ſerait encore en vie). Compare lapalissade.