Middle English Dictionary Entry

nerve n.
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Entry Info

Forms nerve n. Also nerf(e, (error) nerse.
Etymology ML nervus 'a nerve' & CL nervus 'a sinew, tendon'. The late medieval surgeons understood the nature and function of the nerves and often used nervus to denote a 'nerve' in the modern sense, as well as to denote a 'tendon'. There appears to have been some confusion, however, between nerves and tendons; hence, a number of instances in which nervus may be interpreted in either way or in both ways simultaneously.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A bodily part that transmits the capacity to feel or move from the brain or spinal cord, a nerve; ~ gustive, a nerve transmitting the sense of taste; ~ motive, a motor nerve; ~ optik, optic nerve; ~ reversive, laryngeal nerve; (b) a sinew or tendon; the sinew(s of an animal used in the construction of a shield or bow; honginge ~, ~ suspensorie, ?one of the spermatic cords; ?a nerve descending through a spermatic cord; everi ~ and veine, completely; thurgh ~ bon and veine, completely through the body; (c) the vegetable fibers of a plant or the veins of a leaf; (d) some kind of fastening device.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nerf.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nerve.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. motive nerve.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. optic nerve.

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