Where does “towable” come from?

towable (English) comes from English able, from Middle English able, from Old French able, from Latin habilis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -lós — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.

towable (English): That can be towed

Definitions

  1. That can be towed

Ancestry of “towable”, step by step

towable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English able

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishableEasy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to
2Middle Englishablecapable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent
3Old Frenchableable; capable
4Latinhabilisable to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient...
5Latin-ilis-ile
6Proto-Italic-elis
7Proto-Indo-European-elis
8Proto-Indo-European-lósForms agent nouns from verbal roots

via English tow

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtowTo pull something behind one using a line or...
2Middle Englishtowen
3Old Englishtogianto tow
4Proto-Germanictugōnąto pull, tow
5Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “towable

Every word from Proto-Indo-European -lós
towable — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer