'nuclear-weapon' originates from the combination of 'nuclear,' derived from the Latin word 'nucleus,' meaning 'kernel' or 'core,' and 'weapon,' from Old English 'wǣpen,' meaning 'instrument of fighting.'

'nuclear' evolved from the Latin 'nucleus' through French 'nucléaire,' and 'weapon' from Old English 'wǣpen' to the modern English 'weapon.'

Initially, 'nuclear' referred to the core of an atom, and 'weapon' meant any instrument of fighting. Together, they now refer specifically to weapons using nuclear reactions.