Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “surgeon” come from?

Surgeon derives from Middle English surgien, from Anglo-Norman surgien, from Old French cerorgien, from Vulgar Latin chirurgianus, ultimately from Ancient Greek χειρουργία meaning hand-work, from χείρ (hand) and ἔργον (work).

surgeon (English): One who performs surgery; a doctor who performs...

Definitions

  1. One who performs surgery; a doctor who performs...

Ancestry of “surgeon”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsurgienA surgeon; one who practices the art of surgery;...
2Anglo-Normansurgiena doctor or surgeon
3Old Frenchsurgiena doctor or surgeon
4Vulgar Latinchirurgianussurgical; related to surgery
5Latinchīrurgia—
6Ancient Greekχειρουργίαworking by hand, practice of a handicraft or art;...
7Ancient Greekχειρουργέωto work with my hands; to do violence with my...
8Ancient Greekχειρουργόςcraftsman; surgeon
9Ancient Greek-ουργόςworker, maker; work; worker, maker, craftsman
10Ancient Greekἔργονdeed, doing, action; labour, work, task;...
11Proto-Hellenicwérgonwork
12Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
13Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

Words derived from “surgeon”

  • neurosurgeon
  • surgeonfish
  • microsurgeon
  • surgeoncy
  • dermasurgeon
  • cryosurgeon
  • psychosurgeon
  • surgeonlike
  • surgeonly
  • nanosurgeon
  • telesurgeon
  • cybersurgeon
  • supersurgeon
  • surgeonry
  • surgeoness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →