1300, noricerie, "place or room for infants and young children and their nurse," from Old French norture, norreture "food, nourishment; education, training," from Late Latin nutritia "a nursing, suckling," from Latin nutrire "to nourish, suckle" (see nourish).

A nursery is a plot of land dedicated to propagating plants, providing initial nutrients, growing young seedlings, and eventually selling them for transplanting in commercial agriculture, horticulture, or hobby gardening, such as Kitchen Gardening. Depending on the sort of nursery, the final phase (selling) may differ.