massage

Where does the word "massage" come from? It comes from Arabic mass, passing through French before entering English (1870s).

Massage’s story begins in Arabic: mass meant “to touch, to feel.” The Arabic origin is uncertain; some trace it to Portuguese 'amassar', to knead. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as massage. The Dutch physician Johann Mezger popularized massage therapy in the 1860s. It reached English by 1870s as massage. Settled as the English word for the therapeutic practice. Today, massage means the practice of rubbing and kneading muscles to relieve tension.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval mass "to touch, to feel", the Arabic origin is uncertain; some trace it to Portuguese 'amassar', to knead.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s massage "the therapeutic rubbing of muscles", the Dutch physician Johann Mezger popularized massage therapy in the 1860s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1870s massage "the rubbing and kneading of muscles for therapy", settled as the English word for the therapeutic practice.