migraine

Where does the word "migraine" come from? It comes from Greek hemikrania, passing through French before entering English (1400s).

Migraine’s story begins in Greek: hemikrania meant “pain on one side of the head.” Literally half-skull, describing pain on one side of the head. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as migraine. Worn down into French from the Greek medical term. It reached English by 1400s as migraine. Settled as the English word for the severe headache. Today, migraine means a severe recurring headache, often with nausea and light sensitivity.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient hemikrania "pain on one side of the head", literally half-skull, describing pain on one side of the head.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval migraine "a severe headache on one side", worn down into French from the Greek medical term.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s migraine "a severe recurring headache", settled as the English word for the severe headache.