thrust

Where does the word "thrust" come from? It comes from Old Norse thrysta, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Thrust’s story begins in Old Norse: thrysta meant “to press forcefully.” 'thrust' in engineering, the push of a jet or rocket, dates from the 1800s. It reached English by 1200s as thrust. Settled as the English word for pushing forcefully. Today, thrust means to push something forcefully, or the force propelling something forward.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval thrysta "to press forcefully", 'thrust' in engineering, the push of a jet or rocket, dates from the 1800s.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s thrust "to push something forcefully", settled as the English word for pushing forcefully.