Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ferryman” come from?

Ferryman derives from English ferry and English man, tracing through Middle English man and mon to Proto-Germanic mann-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European men- meaning to think or intend.

ferryman (English): A man who operates a ferry; Charon

Definitions

  1. A man who operates a ferry; Charon

Ancestry of “ferryman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishferryTo carry; transport; convey; To move someone or...
2Middle Englishferiento carry, convey, convey in a boat
3Old Englishferianto take, move, carry; to direct the course of;...
4Proto-West Germanicfarjanto take somewhere, to carry, to ferry
5Proto-Germanicfarjanąto take somewhere, to carry, to ferry
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →