puberty n.

"condition of being able to reproduce, sexual maturity," or, as Johnson has it, "the time of life in which the two sexes begin first to be acquainted;" late 14c., pubertē, from Old French puberté and directly from Latin pubertatem (nominative pubertas) "age of maturity, manhood," from pubes (genitive pubertis) "adult, full-grown, manly," also, as a noun, "the signs of manhood, the private parts; grown-up males," a word of uncertain origin. Related: Puberal; pubertal.