Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “leeway” come from?

Leeway derives from English away and Old English weġ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-, meaning to go or move, combined with lee, referring to the sheltered side.

leeway (English): The drift of a ship or airplane in a leeward...

Definitions

  1. The drift of a ship or airplane in a leeward...

Ancestry of “leeway”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLee—
2IrishLaoi—
3Middle Irishláed—
4EnglishloidA lock-picking tool made from a piece of...
5EnglishcelluloidAny of a variety of thermoplastics created from...
6English-oidOf similar form to, but not the same as. Having...
7Latin-oides-like, -form
8Greek-οending for "accusative singular" forms ; and some...
9Ancient GreekεἶδοςThat which is seen: form, image, shape;...
10Spanish-scopio-scope
11Latin-scopium—
12Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
13Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
14Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
Every word from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι →