dock

Where does the word "dock" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch dok, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Dock’s story begins in Middle Dutch: dok meant “a ship basin.” A channel or basin where ships are loaded and repaired. It reached English by 1500s as dock. London's West India Docks opened in 1802, the first enclosed commercial docks. Today, dock means a structure built along a waterfront for loading, unloading, or repairing ships.

1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval dok "a ship basin", a channel or basin where ships are loaded and repaired.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s dock "a structure for loading and unloading ships", London's West India Docks opened in 1802, the first enclosed commercial docks.