Etymology Map
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Nuisance

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an annoying person or thing

Where does the word "nuisance" come from? It comes from Latin nocere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nocere
Latin · ancient
"to harm"
the root of 'noxious' and 'innocent'
2
Stage 2 of 3
nuisance
Old French · medieval
"harm"
a legal term for harm
3
Stage 3 of 3
nuisance
English · 1400s
"harm"
the sense 'annoying thing' dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Nuisance’s story begins in Latin: nocere meant “to harm.” The root of 'noxious' and 'innocent'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nuisance. A legal term for harm. It reached English by 1400s as nuisance. The sense 'annoying thing' dates from the 1600s. Today, nuisance means an annoying person or thing.