Etymology Map
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Boom

2 stages from Dutch to English.

Today it means a long pole along the bottom of a sail; a movable arm on a crane or microphone

Where does the word "boom" come from? It comes from Dutch boom, adopted directly into English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
boom
Dutch · 1500s
"tree, pole"
a tree or beam, cognate of English 'beam'
2
Stage 2 of 2
boom
English · 1600s
"a spar on a sail"
a sailing spar along the foot of a sail; unrelated to the sound 'boom'
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Read the full story

Boom’s story begins in Dutch: boom meant “tree, pole.” A tree or beam, cognate of English 'beam'. It reached English by 1600s as boom. A sailing spar along the foot of a sail; unrelated to the sound 'boom'. Today, boom means a long pole along the bottom of a sail; a movable arm on a crane or microphone.