Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cabman” come from?

Cabman derives from English cab and English man, ultimately tracing through Middle English man and mon, Proto-Germanic mann-, and Proto-Indo-European men-.

cabman (English): The driver of a hackney cab; The driver of a taxi

Definitions

  1. The driver of a hackney cab; The driver of a taxi

Ancestry of “cabman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcabA taxi; a taxicab; Compartment at the front of a...
2EnglishcabrioletAn automobile with a retractable top; A light...
3Frenchcabrioleta cabriolet carriage; a convertible car; a...
4Italiancabriola—
5Latincapreolusroe deer, roebuck
6Latincapreaa roe deer; a wild female goat; vocative singular...
7Latin-eanominative feminine singular of -eus; nominative...
8Latin-eusargentum + API → argenteus; ferrum + API →...
9Ancient Greek-εῖοςForms adjectives, usually with a meaning of "of"...
10Proto-Indo-European-iHwós—
11Proto-Indo-European-wósCreates adjectives from verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -wós →