Aorta
mid 16th century: from Greek aortē (used in the plural by Hippocrates for the branches of the windpipe, and by Aristotle for the great artery), from aeirein ‘raise’.
wiktionary
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀορτή(aortḗ, “the arteries springing from the heart”), from ἀορτέω(aortéō), lengthened form of ἀείρω(aeírō, “I lift, raise”).
etymonline
aorta (n.)
in anatomy, "main trunk of the arterial system," 1590s, from Medieval Latin aorta, from Greek aorte "a strap to hang (something by)," a word applied by Aristotle to the great artery of the heart, literally "what is hung up," probably from aeirein "to lift, heave, raise," which is of uncertain origin, possibly from PIE root *wer- (1) "raise, lift, hold suspended." Used earlier by Hippocrates of the bronchial tubes. It is cognate with the second element in meteor. Related: Aortal; aortic.
