physique

Where does the word "physique" come from? It comes from Greek physikos, passing through French before entering English (1826).

Physique’s story begins in Greek: physikos meant “relating to nature.” Relating to nature, from physis (nature). By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as physique. Narrowed in French to mean the physical body and its build. It reached English by 1826 as physique. French 'physical'; bodybuilders used it for a muscular build. Today, physique means a person's physical build, especially their muscular development.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient physikos "relating to nature", relating to nature, from physis (nature).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1800s physique "the physical build of a body", narrowed in French to mean the physical body and its build.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1826 physique "a person's physical build and muscular development", French 'physical'; bodybuilders used it for a muscular build.