'revulsion' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'revulsio' (from 'revellere'), where 're-' meant 'back' and 'vellere' (or 'veller-') meant 'to pull or pluck'.

'revulsion' changed from the Latin word 'revulsio' (a literal tearing away) and passed into late Latin/Medieval Latin and then into English (via Old French/Anglo-Norman influence) as 'revulsion' to give the modern English word 'revulsion'.

Initially, it meant 'a tearing away or physical pulling back'; over time it evolved into the figurative sense of 'a sudden recoil or strong feeling of disgust', which is the current primary meaning.