Heimwehn.

a1721 M. Prior Ess. Opinion in Dialogues of Dead (1907) 199 The Swiss are remarked to have a Distemper, which they call the Hemvie, a desire of going home, and where ever They are in Service they get leave to return to their Canton at least once in Some Years, and certainly desire to Dye there.

1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 141 The heimweh, i.e. home-sickness with which those of Bern are especially afflicted.

18.. Kingsley in Life I. 3 I have..continually the true ‘heimweh’ home-sickness of the Swiss and Highlanders.

1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain II. x. 695 If debarred a hope of return, they [sc. the Asturians] pine from Nostalgia or Heimweh.

1850 ‘G. Eliot’ Let. 9 Feb. (1954) I. 328 I have a little Heimweh ‘as it regards’ my friends.

1912 R. Brooke Let. 24 June (1968) 389 Writing about Grantchester gave me a bit of Heimweh.

1920 D. H. Lawrence Let. in C. Mackenzie My Life & Times (1966) V. 170 Heimweh or nostalgia there, for the North.

1971 Guardian 25 Nov. 13/4 The Heimweh of absences.