The story
Coined by English neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington in 1906, originally in the spelling noci-ceptor, from noceō + clipped form of receptor, signifying pain detection.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
nociceptor
Today it means: A sensory receptor that sends signals that cause the perception of pain in response to a potentially damaging stimulus. Full definition →