Date:  Wed, 21 Jun 1995 13:20:32 +0200

From:  Jenny Becker <beckerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]OMRI.CZ>

Subject: Re: nurse / "sister"



>Does anyone have a comment on the use of "sister" for "nurse"? My Czexh

>colleague just asked me if they are the same in English.

>

>I remember that in Indonesia, "suster" is also used; would this be

>a borrowing from the Dutch? Is "sister" used for "nurse" in other

>Germanic and / or Slavic languages?

>

>Finally, does "sister" for "nurse" derive from Catholic nuns who

>often serve as nurses throughout the world? Or does the meaning

>come from the biological "sister," or someone who is close to

>you, supportive, nurturing, etc?

>

>Thanks for your ideas.         Chris Brooks / Kuwait



In German, the word for nurse is also sister - Schwester or

Krankenschwester (which is interesting, as krank means sick, while the

Czechs place the emphasis on health). I don't know about the origin of the

use of sister, but I would guess that the nun connection is correct. In the

middle ages, the vast majority of hospitals in Europe were run by religious

orders.



Jenny Becker

beckerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]omri.cz