Where does “binnacle” come from?
Binnacle comes from Dutch binnekels, which derives from Spanish bitácora, which may derive from Latin habitāculum meaning dwelling or habitation.
binnacle (English): The wooden housing for a ship's compass, with its...
Definitions
- The wooden housing for a ship's compass, with its...
Ancestry of “binnacle”, step by step
binnacle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English bittacle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bittacle | A binnacle |
| 2 | French | habitacle | habitation, dwelling; binnacle; cockpit |
| 3 | Late Latin | habitaculum | little dwelling place; dwelling, habitation;... |
| 4 | Latin | -culum | nominative neuter singular of -culus; accusative... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | -klom | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -tlom | Alternative form of *-trom |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -tḗr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |
via Spanish bitácula
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | bitácula | — |