Where does “boatswain” come from?
Boatswain comes from Middle English botswain, from Old English bātsweġen, a compound of Old English bāt and sweġen, ultimately from Proto-Germanic baitaz and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to split or separate.
boatswain (English): The officer in charge of sails, rigging,...
Definitions
- The officer in charge of sails, rigging,...
Ancestry of “boatswain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | botswain | — |
| 2 | Old English | bātsweġen | — |
| 3 | Old English | bāt | that which can be bitten, food, bait; boat, ship,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | bait | boat, ship |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | baitaz | boat, ship |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyd- | to split |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰey- | bee |
Words derived from “boatswain”