contusion

Where does the word "contusion" come from? It comes from Latin contundere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Contusion’s story begins in Latin: contundere meant “to bruise, to beat.” To bruise, to beat, from com- (thoroughly) and tundere (to strike). It reached English by 1400s as contusion. Settled as the medical word for a bruise. Today, contusion means an injury that causes bruising without breaking the skin.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient contundere "to bruise, to beat", to bruise, to beat, from com- (thoroughly) and tundere (to strike).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s contusion "an injury causing bruising without breaking the skin", settled as the medical word for a bruise.