'disturbance' originates from Latin and Old French, specifically the Latin verb 'disturbare' where the prefix 'dis-' meant 'apart/away' and 'turbare' meant 'to throw into confusion' (to disturb).

'disturbare' (Latin) passed into Old French as forms like 'destorber'/'desturber' and Middle English adopted it as 'disturbaunce'/'disturbance', eventually becoming modern English 'disturbance'.

Initially, it meant 'to throw into confusion or disorder'; over time it broadened to mean specific 'interruptions, disorders, or perturbations' in social, physical, or mental contexts.