Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “landlubber” come from?

landlubber (English) comes from English lubber, from Proto-Germanic lubbǭ, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

landlubber (English): Someone unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship,...

Definitions

  1. Someone unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship,...

Ancestry of “landlubber”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlubberA clumsy or lazy person; An inexperienced or...
2Proto-Germaniclubbǭthat which hangs or dangles
3Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave

Words derived from “landlubber”

  • landlubberly
  • landlubbing
  • landlubberliness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →