c. 1200, norice, nurrice, "wet-nurse, woman who nourishes or suckles an infant; foster-mother to a young child," from Old French norrice "foster-mother, wet-nurse, nanny" (source of proper name Norris), from Late Latin *nutricia "nurse, governess, tutoress," noun use of fem. of Latin nutricius "that suckles, nourishes," from nutrix (genitive nutricis) "wet-nurse," from nutrire "to suckle" (see nourish).

The modern form of the English word is from late 14c. By 16c. also "female servant who has care of a child or children" (technically a dry-nurse). As "one who protects or that which nurtures, trains, or cherishes," from early 15c. Meaning "person (usually a woman) who takes care of sick or infirm persons" in English is recorded by 1580s.

"dogfish, shark," a name given to various sharks of inactive habits, c. 1500, of unknown origin. Perhaps identical to nurse (n.1), but the sense is obscure, or perhaps a different word conformed to it by folk-etymology.

1530s, "to suckle (an infant), nourish at the breast;" 1520s in the passive sense, "to bring up" (a child); alteration of Middle English nurshen, norishen "to supply with food and drink, feed; bring up, nurture" (c. 1300; see nourish), in part by influence of nurse (n.1).  From 1540s as "promote growth or vigor in, encourage." Sense of "tend to in sickness or infirmity" is recorded by 1736. Related: Nursed; nursing.

"maidservant employed to tend children," 1650s, from nurse (n.1) + maid.

c. 1300, noricerie, "place or room for infants and young children and their nurse," from Old French norture, norreture "food, nourishment; education, training," from Late Latin nutritia "a nursing, suckling," from Latin nutrire "to nourish, suckle" (see nourish). From c. 1500 as "place where anything is fostered." As a type of school for very young children, 1580s. The horticultural sense of "place where trees are raised to be transplanted" is from 1560s. Nursery rhyme is by 1807.

"one who owns or conducts a horticultural nursery," 1670s, from nursery + man (n.).

1530s, verbal noun from nurse (v.) in any sense. Specific meaning "profession of one who nurses the sick or injured" is from 1860 (Florence Nightingale).

also nurseling, "object of a nurse's care, one who is nursed, an infant," 1550s, from nurse (v.) + -ling. Earlier was norseling, in alchemy, "a substance in a preparatory stage" (c. 1500).

"emotional and physical care," 1938, from nurture + -ance. Related: Nurturant.

c. 1300, norture, "upbringing, the act or responsibility of rearing a child," also "breeding, manners, courtesy," from Old French norture, nourreture "food, nourishment; education, training," from Late Latin nutritia "a nursing, suckling," from Latin nutrire "to nourish, suckle" (see nourish). From mid-14c. as "nourishment, food."