Etymology Map
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Navy

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a country's warships and the people who serve on them

Where does the word "navy" come from? It comes from Latin navis, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
navis
Latin · ancient
"ship"
the same root gives 'naval', 'navigate', and the 'nave' of a church
2
Stage 2 of 3
navie
Old French · medieval
"fleet"
a collective term for ships
3
Stage 3 of 3
navy
English · 1500s
"a nation's warships and sailors"
came to mean a state's organized sea force; 'navy blue' is from Royal Navy uniforms
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Read the full story

Navy’s story begins in Latin: navis meant “ship.” The same root gives 'naval', 'navigate', and the 'nave' of a church. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as navie. A collective term for ships. It reached English by 1500s as navy. Came to mean a state's organized sea force; 'navy blue' is from Royal Navy uniforms. Today, navy means a country's warships and the people who serve on them.