Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “powerboat” come from?

powerboat (English) comes from English Power, from Middle English power, from Anglo-Norman poer, from Latin potēre, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis, from Proto-Indo-European pótis — to drink.

powerboat (English): A small, fast motorboat

Definitions

  1. A small, fast motorboat

Ancestry of “powerboat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPowerA button of a computer, a video game console, or...
2Middle Englishpower—
3Anglo-Normanpoer—
4Latinpotēre—
5Latinpossepresent active infinitive of possum  "to be able...
6Latinpotisable, capable, possible
7Proto-Italicpotis—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
9Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

Words derived from “powerboat”

  • powerboating
  • powerboater
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →