Finesse

google

ref

late Middle English (in the sense ‘purity, delicacy’): from French, related to fine1.

wiktionary

ref

From Middle English fīnesse(“degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from Middle French finesse, Old French finesse(“fineness; delicacy; slenderness”), [1] from fine, fin(“fine, thin”) (from Latin fīnis(“end”); compare Middle English fīn(“of superior quality; precious, valuable; admirable, pleasing; pure, refined; fineness, purity; delicate, exquisite, fine; sharp, thin”)) [2] + -esse(suffix forming nouns describing the condition of being something). [3]

The verb is derived from the noun. [4]

etymonline

ref

finesse (n.)

1520s, "fineness" (obsolete); 1530s, "artifice, delicate stratagem," from French finesse "fineness, subtlety," from Old French fin "subtle, delicate" (see fine (adj.)).

finesse (v.)

"to use fine stratagems," 1746, originally as a term in whist; see finesse (n.). Related: Finessed; finessing.