English
ford
Ford comes from Old English ford, from Proto-Germanic *furduz, from Proto-Indo-European *pértus ‘crossing’, from *per- ‘to fare, cross’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to fare, cross’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furduzreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*furdureconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ford
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fōrd
- Englishearliest quotation 1590ford
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to fare, cross’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furduzreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*furdureconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ford
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fōrd
- Englishearliest quotation 1590ford
Earliest quotation: 1590, Edmund Spenser, Book III, Canto VI: “With water of the ford / Or of the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per-
first, far, per, before, further, support, price, private, press, practice, report, fear, pre, primary, prime, appreciate, prize, pregnant, prior, practical, transport, sport, importance, precious, praise, interpretation, privilege, parade, par, ferry, pirate, export, fare, import, primitive, prix, portable, forth, portal, porter, 154 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pértus ‘crossing’
opportunity, port, fjord, 11 more
through Old English ford
Today it means
noun A location where a stream is shallow and the bottom has good footing, making it possible to cross from one side to the other with no bridge, by walking, riding, or driving through the water; a crossing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / ford