ergonomics

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἔργον“work”
2. Polish · derived fromergonomia“ergonomics”
3. English todayergonomics

From ergo- (prefix indicating work) + -nomics (suffix indicating the rules of a discipline), probably modelled after Polish ergonomia (“ergonomics”) (used by Polish scientist Wojciech Jastrzębowski (1799–1882) in an 1857 article), from Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon, “work”) + νόμος (nómos, “custom; law, ordinance”). The English word is widely regarded as having been introduced by British psychologist K. F. Hywel Murrell at a meeting at the Admiralty in London in July 1949, which led to the establishment of the Ergonomics Research Society (now The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors) on 17 September 1949.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from c. 1950. The science of the design of equipment, especially so as to reduce operator fatigue, discomfort and injury.