Migraine
/ˈmɪ.ɡreɪn/noun
A severe, often debilitating headache usually accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Did you know?The word 'migraine' stems from the Greek 'hemikrania', meaning 'half of the skull', reflecting how the pain often localizes to one side of the head.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἡμικρανία
“Referring to pain localized to half the head.”
12th Century
Old French
migrain
“A term used to describe a severe headache.”
14th Century
Middle English
migrain
“Adopted from Old French, still referring to intense head pain.”
Modern English
English
migraine
“The term evolves into its current form, denoting a specific type of intense headache.”