Etymology Map
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Pulse

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the rhythmic beat of blood in the arteries

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
pulsus
Latin · ancient
"beating"
from 'pellere', to drive, the root of 'propel'
2
Stage 2 of 3
pouls
Old French · medieval
"pulse"
doctors read the pulse
3
Stage 3 of 3
pulse
English · 1300s
"heartbeat"
electrical 'pulses' date from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Pulse’s story begins in Latin: pulsus meant “beating.” From 'pellere', to drive, the root of 'propel'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pouls. Doctors read the pulse. It reached English by 1300s as pulse. Electrical 'pulses' date from the 1900s. Today, pulse means the rhythmic beat of blood in the arteries.