Galvanize
/ˈɡæl.və.naɪz/noun
To stimulate into action or to coat with a protective layer of zinc.
Did you know?Galvanize comes from Luigi Galvani, whose experiments with dead frog legs helped spark the age of electrical science and inspired the word’s “jolt” sense.
Etymological Timeline
1780s
Italian
Galvani
“The surname of Luigi Galvani, associated with experiments on animal electricity”
1790s
French
galvaniser
“To apply Galvani’s electrical method; later, to stimulate or excite”
Early 19th Century
English
galvanize
“To coat with zinc by an electrochemical process; to stimulate into sudden action”
Modern English
English
galvanize
“To spur or shock into activity or movement”