Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “deck” come from?

Deck comes from Middle English dekke, from Middle Dutch dec, the noun form of Middle Dutch decken, from Old Dutch thecken, from Proto-Germanic þakjaną and þaką, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)teg-, meaning to cover or roof.

deck (English): Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a...

Definitions

  1. Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a...

Ancestry of “deck”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdekke—
2Middle Dutchdecroof, covering
3Middle Dutchdeckento roof, to build/repair a roof; to cover; to...
4Old Dutchtheckento cover; to roof
5Proto-West Germanicþakkjanto cover; to burn
6Proto-Germanicþakjanąto cover; to burn
7Proto-Germanicþakąroof, cover
8Proto-Indo-European(s)teg-to cover; pole, stick, beam

Words derived from “deck”

  • decks
  • dyke
  • dike
  • quarterdeck
  • decker
  • foredeck
  • deckhouse
  • deckhand
  • belowdecks
  • bedeck
  • afterdeck
  • sundeck
  • diking
  • dek
  • deckhead
  • messdeck
  • decketh
  • dykey
  • underdeck
  • deckest
  • deckless
  • deckside
  • multideck
  • diker
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)teg- →