pulsation

The story

1. Latin · borrowed frompulsātiō“(classical Latin) a beating or striking; (Medieval Latin, medical) rhythmical expansion and contraction (1363 in Chauliac)”
2. Middle French · derived frompulsacion“(of bells) a striking (end of 14th c.); (of a diseased part of the body) a throbbing (1377); pulsation (1575)”
3. Middle English · inherited frompulsacioun“pulsing of the blood, throbbing”
4. English todaypulsation

Inherited from Middle English pulsacioun (“pulsing of the blood, throbbing”), borrowed from Middle French pulsacion (“(of bells) a striking (end of 14th c.); (of a diseased part of the body) a throbbing (1377); pulsation (1575)”), and its source, Latin pulsātiō (“(classical Latin) a beating or striking; (Medieval Latin, medical) rhythmical expansion and contraction (1363 in Chauliac)”). By surface analysis, pulsate + -ion.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. The regular throbbing of the heart, an artery etc. in a living body; the pulse.
• from 17th c. Any rhythmic beating, throbbing etc.
• from 17th c. Physical striking; a blow.
• from 19th c. A single beat, throb or vibration.