- perspiration
- 1611, from Fr. perspiration (1561), noun of action from perspirer "perspire," from L. perspirare "blow or breathe constantly," from per- "through" + spirare "to breathe, blow" (see spirit). Applied to excretion of invisible moistures through the skin (1626), hence used as a euphemism for "sweat" from 1725.
"It is well known that for some time past, neither man, woman nor child ... has been subject to that gross kind of exudation which was formerly known by the name of sweat; ... now every mortal, except carters, coal-heavers and Irish Chairmen ... merely perspires." ["Gentleman's Magazine," 1791]