Based on the example of words from a selected semantic area 'zaklad balneoterapeutyczny' (balneotherapy centre) and/or 'miejsce ze zrodlami wod leczniczych' (spa centre), the article presents the linguistic history of fashion for balneotherapy. The position of the latest borrowing spa as a gap filling in contemporary Polish lexical system is depicted in the context of semantic, usage area and connotation changes of notions registered between the 16th and 21st centuries: 'cieplica', 'zdroj', 'krynica', 'wody', 'kapiel', 'kurort', 'uzdrowisko', showing decreasing and then increasing interest in this kind of therapy.