Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “massage” come from?

massage (French) comes from French masser, from Latin massa, from Ancient Greek μᾶζα, from Ancient Greek μάσσω, from Proto-Indo-European mh₂ǵyéti, from Proto-Indo-European meh₂ǵ- — to knead, stroke.

massage (French): physical massage

Definitions

  1. physical massage

Ancestry of “massage”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchmasserto massage
2Latinmassamass, bulk; load, burden; dough
3Ancient Greekμᾶζαbarley-bread or cake
4Ancient Greekμάσσωto handle, work with my hands, knead; to wipe
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmh₂ǵyéti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂ǵ-to knead, stroke

Words derived from “massage”

  • massage
  • massager
  • hydromassage
  • massagelike
  • massotherapy
  • massagist
  • automassage
  • pneumomassage
  • massageable
  • nonmassage
  • masso-
  • Champissage
  • remassage
  • electromassage
  • masajeador
  • masajear
  • masaje
  • vibromassaggio
  • massaggiatore
  • vibromassaggiatore
  • idromassaggio
  • massaggio
  • massaggiare
  • elettromassaggio
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂ǵ- →