Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “transom” come from?

Transom comes from Middle English traunsom, of uncertain origin and meaning.

transom (English): A crosspiece over a door; a lintel; A horizontal...

Definitions

  1. A crosspiece over a door; a lintel; A horizontal...

Ancestry of “transom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtraunsom—
2Latintranstrumcrossbeam, transom; thwart of a vessel
3Latintrāns—
4LatinPadus—
5LeponticBodincus—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “transom”

  • transomed
  • transomless
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →