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Noise

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one

Where does the word "noise" come from? It comes from Latin nausea, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nausea
Latin · ancient
"seasickness"
a possible source, from Greek 'naus', ship: the uproar and distress of a ship's passengers
2
Stage 2 of 3
noise
Old French · medieval
"uproar, quarrel"
meant a loud disturbance or strife
3
Stage 3 of 3
noise
English · 1200s
"loud sound"
in science, 'noise' now means unwanted signal
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Read the full story

Noise’s story begins in Latin: nausea meant “seasickness.” A possible source, from Greek 'naus', ship: the uproar and distress of a ship's passengers. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as noise. Meant a loud disturbance or strife. It reached English by 1200s as noise. In science, 'noise' now means unwanted signal. Today, noise means a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one.