noun

sinew

Sinew (noun) means a cord or tendon of the body.

noun

A cord or tendon of the body.

A cord or string, particularly (music) as of a musical instrument.

Muscular power, muscle; nerve, nervous energy; vigor, vigorous strength.

That which gives strength or in which strength consists; a supporting factor or member; mainstay.

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Etymology

From Middle English synwe, synewe (“tendon; ligament or other connective tissue; muscle; nerve; leaf vein”), from Old English sinu (“tendon, sinew; nerve”), from Proto-West Germanic *sinu, from Proto-Germanic *sinwō, from Proto-Indo-European *snéh₁wr̥ (“sinew, tendon”), from *(s)neh₁- (“to twist (threads), spin, weave”). The word is cognate with sinnow (“sinew”), Scots senon, sinnon, Saterland Frisian Siene (“sinew”), West Frisian senuw, sine (“sinew; nerve”), Dutch zenuw (“nerve, sinew”), German Sehne (“tendon, sinew; cord”), Icelandic sin (“tendon”), Danish sene (“tendon, sinew”), Swedish sena (“sinew”), Avestan 𐬯𐬥𐬁𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭 (snāuuar, “tendon, sinew”), Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neûron, “tendon; nerve; cord”), Latin nervus (“tendon, sinew; nerve”), Sanskrit स्नावन् (snāván, “sinew, tendon; muscle”), Tocharian B ṣñor (“sinew”). Doublet of nerve and neuron.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of sinew?

"sinew" (noun) means a cord or tendon of the body.

What are the different meanings of sinew?

"sinew" has 3 main meanings: 1. A cord or tendon of the body; 2. A cord or string, particularly (music) as of a musical instrument; 3. Muscular power, muscle; nerve, nervous energy; vigor, vigorous strength.