Where does “waterman” come from?

waterman (Dutch) comes from Dutch water, from Middle Dutch wāter, from Middle Dutch loo, from Old Dutch lō, from Proto-West Germanic lauh, from Proto-Germanic lauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European lówkos, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ- — bright; to shine; to see.

waterman (Dutch): water boy, water carrier

Definitions

  1. water boy, water carrier

Ancestry of “waterman”, step by step

waterman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch water

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchwaterwater; body of water; bodily fluid
2Middle Dutchwāterwater
3Middle Dutchloosacred wood, forest; forest, thicket
4Old Dutchforest
5Proto-West Germaniclauhclearing; meadow
6Proto-Germaniclauhazclearing; meadow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlówkosclearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlewḱ-lynx
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

via Dutch man

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchmanman, human male, either adult or...
2Middle Dutchmanhuman; person; man, male
3Old Dutchmanhuman, person; man, male
4Proto-West Germanicmannperson, human
5Proto-Germanic*mann-
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-
waterman — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer