surgeon

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

Surgeon’s story begins in Greek: kheirourgia meant “handwork.” Greek 'kheir', hand, plus 'ergon', work. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as surgien. Reduced from 'cirurgien'. It reached English by 1300s as surgeon. Surgeons were separate from physicians and grouped with barbers until 1745. Today, surgeon means a doctor qualified to perform operations.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kheirourgia "handwork", Greek 'kheir', hand, plus 'ergon', work.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval surgien "surgeon", reduced from 'cirurgien'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s surgeon "one who operates", surgeons were separate from physicians and grouped with barbers until 1745.