Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “draftsman” come from?

Draftsman derives from English draft and English man, tracing through Middle English draught and Middle English mon to Proto-Indo-European dʰreǵ-, meaning to draw or pull, and men-, meaning to think or direct.

draftsman (English): US standard spelling of draughtsman

Definitions

  1. US standard spelling of draughtsman

Ancestry of “draftsman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdraftA current of air, usually coming into a room or...
2EnglishdraughtAlternative form of draft "in its various...
3Middle Englishdraughtdrawing, pull, stroke, etc
4Old Englishdreaht—
5Proto-Germanicdrahtuzpulling, carrying
6Proto-Germanicdraganąto draw, to pull, to carry
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreǵ-pull, draw, drag; to glide, swoop; to draw, glide

Words derived from “draftsman”

  • draftsmanship
  • draftman
  • draftmanship
  • draftsmanly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreǵ- →