English
Wadebridge
Wadebridge comes from Old English wæd ‘ford’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *wadʰom.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wadʰomreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wadą‘shallow water, ford’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wæd‘ford’
- EnglishtodayWadebridge
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wadʰomreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wadą‘shallow water, ford’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wæd‘ford’
- EnglishtodayWadebridge
Formed from wæd ‘ford’ + bridge
Proto-Germanic *brugjǭ ‘bridge’
Proto-West Germanic *bruggju ‘bridge’
Old English brycġ ‘bridge’
Middle English brigge ‘a bridge’
English bridge
The story
Originally named Wade, as the River Camel had to be waded here until a bridge was built in 1468.
Linked words
through Old English wæd ‘ford’
Today it means
name A town and civil parish with a town council in northern Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SW9972).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wadʰom / Wadebridge