Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “life-buoy” come from?

life-buoy (English) comes from English life buoy, from English buoy, from Middle English boy, from Middle Dutch boeye, from Old French boie, from Latin boia, from Ancient Greek βοείη, from Ancient Greek βοῦς — army.

life-buoy (English): Alternative form of life buoy

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of life buoy

Ancestry of “life-buoy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishlife buoyA buoyant object that is used as a life-saving...
2EnglishbuoyA float moored in water to mark a location, warn...
3Middle Englishboy—
4Middle Dutchboeyelife buoy; float, buoy; shackle, fetter
5Old Frenchboiebond, chain; fetter, chain, clog
6Latinboiafetter, collar for the neck
7Ancient Greekβοείηox hide
8Ancient Greekβοῦςcow, ox, cattle; shield: ὃτι ἐκ βοείων ἐστι...
9LatincorvusA raven; a bird associated with prophecy and...
10Proto-Italickorwos—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂wós—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
13Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
14Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →