Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “postbox” come from?

postbox (English) comes from Swedish post, from German posten, from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus — passed , crossed.

postbox (English): Alternative spelling of post box

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of post box

Ancestry of “postbox”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishpostpostal office; an organization delivering mail...
2Germanpostento post; inflection of posen: ##...
3EnglishpostA long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;...
4Middle Frenchposte—
5Italianpostamail, post; post office; stakes
6Latinprobāre—
7Latinprobō—
8LatinProbus—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
12Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →