English
Port Isaac
Port Isaac comes from Cornish porth ‘port’, from Latin portus ‘harbour’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to fare’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to fare’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*portus‘harbour’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportus‘harbour’
- Proto-Brythonicc. 100 BCE–500 CE*porθ‘port, harbor’reconstructed
- Old Cornishmodernporth
- Middle Cornishmodernporh
- Cornishmodernporth‘port’
- Cornish, derivedmodernPorthysek
- EnglishtodayPort Isaac
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to fare’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*portus‘harbour’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportus‘harbour’
- Proto-Brythonicc. 100 BCE–500 CE*porθ‘port, harbor’reconstructed
- Old Cornishmodernporth
- Middle Cornishmodernporh
- Cornishmodernporth‘port’
- Cornish, derivedmodernPorthysek
- EnglishtodayPort Isaac
first attested Anglicized form of Cornish Porthysek, a toponym composed of the elements porth (“port”) + ysek (“abounding in corn”); first recorded as Portusek in 1338 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
Anglicized form of Cornish Porthysek, a toponym composed of the elements porth (‘port’) + ysek (‘abounding in corn’); first recorded as Portusek in 1338.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to fare’
first, before, far, per, price, private, press, further, support, fear, pre, practice, primary, prime, report, appreciate, prior, prize, pregnant, afford, practical, precious, transport, interpretation, privilege, sport, parade, importance, par, praise, forth, ferry, pirate, fare, pardon, primitive, prix, export, import, interpreter, 151 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pértus ‘crossing’
through Proto-Italic *portus ‘harbour’
through Latin portus ‘harbour’
Today it means
name A coastal village in St Endellion parish, on the north coast of Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SW9980).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / Port Isaac