Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “postman” come from?

Postman derives from English post and man, with post coming from Latin postis meaning a post or stake.

postman (English): someone who delivers the post to, and/or...

Definitions

  1. someone who delivers the post to, and/or...

Ancestry of “postman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpostA long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;...
2Middle Frenchposte—
3Italianpostamail, post; post office; stakes
4Latinprobāre—
5Latinprobō—
6LatinProbus—
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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →