Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “aboard” come from?

Aboard comes from Middle English abord, formed from the Middle English prefix a- and a noun related to board, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning to carry or bear.

aboard (English): On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence,...

Definitions

  1. On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence,...

Ancestry of “aboard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishabordOn board; into or within a ship or boat;...
2Middle EnglishA—
3Middle EnglishII
4Old EnglishiċI
5Proto-West GermanicikI
6Proto-Germanic*ek—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I

Words derived from “aboard”

  • abord
  • liveaboard
  • rollaboard
Every word from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂ →