Etymology

sinking feeling

sink·ing feel·ing

Today it means: An unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness. Full definition →

First used early 19th c.
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The story

From sinking (noun) + feeling (noun), from the physical sensation.

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 19th c. An unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.