massage
/məˈsɑːʒ/
noun
Origin
Arabic
massa — to touch, to feel, or to stroke
Overview
Meaning Now
- The therapeutic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body by rubbing, kneading, or stroking.
Literal older meaning
to knead or handle
Language path
Arabic → French → English
Earliest form
massage
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term entered European languages from the Arabic 'massa' (to touch) via French, reflecting the growing interest in physiological medicine and holistic health practices during the late 19th century.
Evolution
- Arabic
massa
“to touch or stroke”
- French
masser
“to knead or massage”
- English, 19th century
massage
“therapeutic bodywork”
Introduced as a medical term
Connections
Word parts
massage
root
therapeutic manipulation
Related across languages
French
masser
to massage
Arabic
mass
touching or feeling
Explore next
Related to massage
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.