'craving' originates from Old Norse, specifically the word 'krefja', where the root meant 'to demand' or 'to claim'.

'crave' passed into Middle English (forms like 'craven'/'cravenen' and 'craven' in various spellings) from Old Norse 'krefja' and developed into the modern English verb 'crave' and the noun 'craving'.

Initially it meant 'to demand or ask earnestly'; over time the sense shifted toward an internal, often bodily, strong desire — the modern sense 'a powerful longing or urge'.