Where does “posthole” come from?

posthole (English) comes from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo-, from Proto-Indo-European pro- — passed , crossed.

posthole (English): A cut feature used to hold a surface timber or...

Definitions

  1. A cut feature used to hold a surface timber or...

Ancestry of “posthole”, step by step

posthole traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English post

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpostA long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;...
2Middle Frenchposte
3Italianpostamail, post; post office; stakes
4Latinprobāre
5Latinprobōto approve, permit, commend
6LatinProbusgood, serviceable, excellent, superior, able
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
10Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English hole

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishholeA hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit;...
2Middle Englishholehealthy; safe; whole, complete, full
3Old Englishhola hole, a hollow; calumny; slander
4Proto-West Germanicholhollow; hole
5Proto-Germanichuląa hollow; depression; hole
6Proto-Germanichulazhollow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós