Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “undercarriage” come from?

Undercarriage is a compound of English under and carriage, with under deriving from Middle English under, Old English under, Proto-Germanic under, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European n̥dʰér and h₁en.

undercarriage (English): The supporting structural framework of a vehicle;...

Definitions

  1. The supporting structural framework of a vehicle;...

Ancestry of “undercarriage”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcarriageThe act of conveying; carrying; Means of...
2Middle Englishcariage—
3Old Northern Frenchcariage—
4Old Frenchcarierto carry
5Latincarrusa wagon, a four-wheeled baggage cart; a cartload,...
6Gaulishkarroswagon
7Proto-Celtickarroswagon
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱr̥sósvehicle
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱers-to run

Words derived from “undercarriage”

  • undercarriageless
  • undercarriaged
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- →