Jejunum, from jenunus, Latin for empty or hungry: This portion of the small intestine, the 3 feet or so between the duodenum and ileum, is typically empty when dissected, perhaps as a result of residual peristalsis in the moments after death or because most will not have eaten in the hours before death.

The original name, given by Galen, was nestis, Greek for fasting. Later the term was translated into Latin as jejunum.

Also derived from jenunus is the word jejune, something insubstantial or devoid of interest, such as the jejune comments of politicians.