Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “floating” come from?

Floating comes from Middle English floten, Old English flotian, Proto-Germanic flutōną, and Proto-Indo-European plew-, a root meaning to flow or swim.

floating (English): That floats or float; Not fixed in position,...

Definitions

  1. That floats or float; Not fixed in position,...

Ancestry of “floating”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfloatOf an object or substance, to be supported by a...
2Middle EnglishfloteAlternative form of floute; Something that...
3Old Frenchflotefleet
4Old Norseflotifleet
5Proto-GermanicflutôA float; flotation device; A raft; boat; ship
6Proto-Indo-Europeanplewd-to fly, flow, run
7Proto-Indo-Europeanplew-to fly, flow, run

Words derived from “floating”

  • floatingly
  • nonfloating
Every word from Proto-Indo-European plew- →