Pulsebeat

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rhythmic fluctuation in blood vessels that indicates heart activity
2. A regular throbbing sensation in the body associated with the heart's pumping action
3. The continuous rhythmic movement caused by the heart forcing blood through arteries

Etymology: "Pulsebeat" is a plain compound: "pulse" joined to "beat," with no sound change or dramatic shift to report. Both parts already carried the sense of a regular rhythmic throb before they were joined. "Pulse" comes into English from Old French "pous," which descends from Latin "pulsus," meaning a beating or striking, and "beat" is an old Germanic word for striking or throbbing. Put together, the pair describes the steady throb of the heart, with each element reinforcing the other.

Synonyms: heartbeat, pulse