organ

Where does the word "organ" come from? It comes from Greek organon, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Organ’s story begins in Greek: organon meant “an instrument, tool.” An instrument or tool, including musical instruments. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as organe. Carried into French for both musical instruments and body parts. It reached English by 1300s as organ. Settled as the English word for both the musical instrument and a bodily structure. Today, organ means a part of an organism performing a specific function, or a keyboard musical instrument.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient organon "an instrument, tool", an instrument or tool, including musical instruments.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval organe "a musical instrument, or a body part", carried into French for both musical instruments and body parts.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s organ "a musical instrument, or a bodily structure", settled as the English word for both the musical instrument and a bodily structure.