Where does “broadway” come from?
broadway (English) comes from English way, from Middle English way, from Old English weġ, from Proto-West Germanic weg, from Proto-Germanic wēgaz, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.
broadway (English): An esplanade
Definitions
- An esplanade
Ancestry of “broadway”, step by step
broadway traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English way
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | way | "To do with a place or places."; A method or... |
| 2 | Middle English | way | — |
| 3 | Old English | weġ | way; path; way, road, path |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | weg | way, road |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wēgaz | wave; sea |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |
via English broad
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | broad | Wide in extent or scope; Extended, in the sense... |
| 2 | German | braut | inflection of brauen: ## third-person singular... |
| 3 | Middle High German | brūt | concubine |
| 4 | Old High German | brūt | daughter-in-law, bride; bride |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *brūdi | bride |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | brūdiz | bride |