Where does “carriageway” come from?

Carriageway derives from English carriage and way, with way tracing to Old English weġ, Proto-Germanic wēgō, and Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-, meaning path or track.

carriageway (English): The part of a road that carries traffic

Definitions

  1. The part of a road that carries traffic

Ancestry of “carriageway”, step by step

carriageway traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English carriage

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcarriageThe act of conveying; carrying; Means of...
2Middle Englishcariage
3Old Northern Frenchcariage
4Old Frenchcarierto carry
5Latincarrusa wagon, a four-wheeled baggage cart; a cartload,...
6Gaulishkarroswagon
7Proto-Celtickarroswagon
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱr̥sósvehicle
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱers-to run

via English Way

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWayChristianity
2Middle Englishway
3Old Englishweġway; path; way, road, path
4Proto-West Germanicwegway, road
5Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱers-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱr̥sósEvery word from Proto-Celtic karros