mal du Suisse

English

Etymology

From French mal du Suisse (literally “Swiss disease”); coined in 1688 by Johannes Hofer (1669–1752), based on its frequent occurrence in Swiss mercenaries who in the plains of Switzerland were pining for their landscapes. At the time it was thought to be accompanied by serious symptoms such as fainting and fever, and potentially fatal.

Noun

mal du Suisse (uncountable)

1. (historical) Nostalgia or homesickness.