From Greek gangraina 'an eating sore,' describing tissue that is devoured by death and decay.
Death and decomposition of body tissue, usually resulting from obstructed blood supply or bacterial infection.
From Greek gangraina 'an eating sore,' related to gran 'to gnaw.' Hippocrates used the term in the 5th century BCE. The word entered English through Latin gangraena and Old French gangrene. Some etymologists connect it to PIE *gras- 'to devour.' Key roots