Etymology

heartstrings

heart·strings
H4E1A1R1T1S1T1R1I1N1G2S1

Today it means: The tendons or other structures resembling cords once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart; especially the aorta, pulmonary artery, and other large arteries connected to them; also, the diaphragm. Full definition →

First used 15th–19th c.Middle English hartestrynges
Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

  1. Middle English · inherited fromherte“heart”
  2. Middle English · inherited fromhartestrynges
  3. English todayheartstrings

PIE word *ḱḗr From Late Middle English hartestrynges, hert strynges, from Middle English herte (“heart”) + strenges, strynges (“cords, strings”). The English word is analysable as heart + strings.

First known use, by meaning

  • 15th–19th c. The tendons or other structures resembling cords once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart; especially the aorta, pulmonary artery, and other large arteries connected to them; also, the diaphragm.
  • from 16th c. The source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.