bruise
UK[bruːz]US[bruːz]
v
to cause a mark on someone's body by hitting or pressing it, or to develop such a mark
n
a dark mark on the skin caused by an injury
Etymology
the word 'bruise' originates from the old english verb brysan, meaning 'to crush, pound, or injure by crushing'. it is cognate with old frisian brēsa and middle dutch brûsen, all pointing to a common west germanic root. the semantic focus shifted from the general act of crushing to the specific, visible result of that action—a discoloration of the skin beneath which capillaries have been crushed or broken. this evolution from a verb describing an action to a noun naming its most common physical manifestation illustrates a classic pattern of semantic specialization within the english lexicon.
Analysis
the entire word 'bruise' functions as a simplex unit. it is of germanic origin, related to old english brysan meaning 'to crush'.
Examples
she bruised her knee when she fell off the bicycle.
a dark bruise appeared on his arm where he had been hit.
handle the fruit carefully to avoid bruising it.