'punish' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'punire', ultimately related to 'poena' meaning 'penalty' or 'punishment'.

'punire' passed into Old French as 'punir' (and Anglo-Norman forms such as 'puniss-'), entered Middle English as 'punishen' and later became the modern English 'punish'.

Initially it meant 'to impose a penalty' (from Latin sense), and over time this core meaning has largely remained, though usage broadened to include causing hardship or suffering more generally.