An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The force acting across a unit area in a solid body, tending to produce → strain in the body or part of it. When a stress is applied to a body, the ratio of stress to strain is a characteristic constant of the body. See also → shear.

Etymology (EN): Stress “hardship, adversity, force, pressure,” in part a shortening of M.Fr. destresse (fr. détresse) in part from O.Fr. estrece “narrowness, oppression,” from L. strictus “compressed,” p.p. of stringere “draw tight.”

Etymology (PE): Xošar variant of fešâr “pressure,” cf. Lori xošâr, Aftari xešâr, Qazvini, Qomi xošâl, Tabari qošâr Khotanese ssarr- “to exhilarate;” loaned in Arm. ôšarak, in Ar. afšaraj “juice.”