bruise

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To injure part of the body so that a dark mark appears on the skin without breaking it

   I bruised my knee when I fell down the stairs.

2. 2
   verb

   To develop a bruise easily or be likely to get bruises

   She has pale skin and bruises very easily.

3. 3
   verb

   To get dark, damaged marks on fruit or vegetables through rough handling

   Bananas bruise easily, so pack them carefully.

4. 4
   verb

   To hurt someone's feelings

   Her harsh words bruised his pride.

From Middle English bruisen, brusen, brosen, brisen, bresen, from a merger two words, both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (“to break”): * Old English brȳsan, brīesan (“to bruise; crush”), from Proto-Germanic *brausijaną, *brūsijaną (“to break; crumble; crack”). Provided the word's sense. * Anglo-Norman bruiser, bruser (“to break, smash, shatter”), from Gaulish *brus-, from Proto-Celtic *bruseti (“to break”). Provided the word's form. Cognate with Scots brizz, German brausen (“to roar; boom; pound”), Old English brosnian (“to crumble, fall apart”), Dutch broos (“brittle”), German…

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