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Where does the word "artery" come from? It comes from Greek arteria, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "artery" come from? It comes from Greek arteria, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Artery’s story begins in Greek: arteria meant “the windpipe, an air-carrying vessel.” Originally meant windpipe, since early anatomists believed arteries carried air. It reached English by 1300s as artery. Settled as the word for the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart. Today, artery means a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient arteria "the windpipe, an air-carrying vessel", originally meant windpipe, since early anatomists believed arteries carried air.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s artery "a blood vessel carrying blood from the heart", settled as the word for the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart.