Etymology Map
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Nerve

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a fibre carrying signals in the body; courage

Where does the word "nerve" come from? It comes from Latin nervus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nervus
Latin · ancient
"sinew, tendon"
related to Greek 'neuron', sinew
2
Stage 2 of 3
nerf
Old French · medieval
"sinew"
meant tendon, as in 'strain every nerve'
3
Stage 3 of 3
nerve
English · 1300s
"sinew"
the sense 'courage' dates from the 1600s; 'nerves' as anxiety from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Nerve’s story begins in Latin: nervus meant “sinew, tendon.” Related to Greek 'neuron', sinew. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nerf. Meant tendon, as in 'strain every nerve'. It reached English by 1300s as nerve. The sense 'courage' dates from the 1600s; 'nerves' as anxiety from the 1800s. Today, nerve means a fibre carrying signals in the body; courage.