Spleen
/spliːn/noun
An abdominal organ that helps filter blood and support the immune system; also, bad temper or melancholy.
Did you know?In ancient and medieval medicine, the spleen was tied to melancholy and black bile, so “spleen” became a word for bitter resentment long before modern psychology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spel-
“A root meaning “split, peel off” is often connected to the organ’s name in later branches, though the exact prehistory is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σπλήν (splḗn)
“The spleen, the abdominal organ.”
Late Latin
Latin
splen
“The spleen.”
Old French
Old French
esplen
“The spleen.”
Middle English
English
splene
“The spleen; also ill temper, melancholy.”
Modern English
English
spleen
“The spleen; figuratively, bad temper or melancholy.”
Explore more surprising origins