English word origin

Etymology of float

From Middle English floten, from Old English flotian (“to float”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-, *plew- (“to float, swim, fly”). Compare fl

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

verb

To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object). · To be supported by a liquid of greater density, such that part (of the object or substance) remains above the surface. · To cause something to be suspended in a fluid of greater density. · To be capable of floating.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Root classification mention*plew-ine-pro
Inherited-form mentionflotenenm
Inherited-form mentionflotianang · to float
Inherited-form mention*flotōngmw-pro
Inherited-form mention*flutōnągem-pro · to float
Derivation mention*plewd-ine-pro

This page abbreviates 21 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "name": "root",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*plew-"
      },
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    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "floten"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English floten"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "flotian",
        "t": "to float"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English flotian (“to float”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
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        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*flotōn"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *flotōn"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*flutōną",
        "t": "to float"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*plewd-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *plewd-"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "floten",
      "floten#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "flotian",
      "flotian#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*flotōn",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/flotōn"
    ],
    [
      "*flutōną",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/flutōną"
    ],
    [
      "*plewd-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/plewd-"
    ],
    [
      "*plew-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/plew-"
    ],
    [
      "flow",
      "flow#English"
    ],
    [
      "fleet",
      "fleet#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object).",
        "To be supported by a liquid of greater density, such that part (of the object or substance) remains above the surface.",
        "To cause something to be suspended in a fluid of greater density.",
        "To be capable of floating."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive",
        "transitive"
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}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

noun

A buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid. · A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. · A float board. · A tool similar to a rasp, used in various trades.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English flote, from Old English flota (“sailor, boat”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotō, from Proto-Germanic *flutô, from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionfloteenm
Inherited-form mentionflotaang
Inherited-form mention*flotōgmw-pro
Inherited-form mention*flutôgem-pro
Derivation mention*plewd-ine-pro

This page abbreviates 24 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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        "2": "ang",
        "3": "flota",
        "4": "",
        "5": "sailor, boat"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English flota (“sailor, boat”)"
    },
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      "args": {
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      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *flotō"
    },
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      "name": "inh",
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        "2": "gem-pro",
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      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *flutô"
    },
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      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*plewd-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *plewd-"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "flote",
      "flote#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "flota",
      "flota#Old_English"
    ],
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      "*flotō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/flotō"
    ],
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      "*flutô",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/flutô"
    ],
    [
      "*plewd-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/plewd-"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid.",
        "A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.",
        "A float board.",
        "A tool similar to a rasp, used in various trades."
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for float →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-ZmxvYXQ