Sinew
/ˈsɪnjuː/noun
A tendon or ligament that connects muscle to bone.
Did you know?In ancient times, sinews were believed to hold not just physical strength, but also spiritual power, linking the body to the spirit in rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sneigʰ-
“To bind tightly or to fasten.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σύνειδος (syneidos)
“To be aware, to know, thus implying strength through awareness.”
Old English
OE
sinew
“A tendon or muscle, symbolizing strength and power.”
Middle English
ME
sinewe
“Referring to toughness and physical strength, often used in a metaphorical sense.”
Modern English
English
sinew
“A term denoting tendons, but often evokes the deeper connections of strength and vitality.”
Explore more surprising origins