Wound
/wuːnd/noun
An injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact.
Did you know?The English noun and verb trace back to a Germanic root meaning “to turn, twist, or bend,” which is why the word’s oldest history is about force and damage, not just pain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wendh-
“to turn, twist, or wind”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wundō
“a hurt, injury, or wound”
Old English
English
wund
“a wound, injury, or sore”
Middle English
English
wounde
“a wound or injury”
Modern English
English
wound
“an injury to living tissue”