English

hostageship

From hostage + -ship.

Formed from hostage + -ship

Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis ‘lord, master’

…

Latin hospes ‘host’

Old French oste ‘host’

Old French hostage

Middle English hostage

Today it means

noun A condition of being held as surety for a pledge, as to appear before a magistrate for trial after release from gaol.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / hostageship