Etymology Map
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Stevedore

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person employed in loading and unloading ships

Where does the word "stevedore" come from? It comes from Latin stīpāre, passing through Spanish before entering English (1780s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
stīpāre
Latin · ancient
"to pack"
to pack or cram
2
Stage 2 of 3
estibador
Spanish · medieval
"cargo packer"
a packer of cargo, from 'estibar', to stow
3
Stage 3 of 3
stevedore
American English · 1780s
"dock worker"
borrowed in Atlantic ports that traded with Spain
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Read the full story

Stevedore’s story begins in Latin: stīpāre meant “to pack.” To pack or cram. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as estibador. A packer of cargo, from 'estibar', to stow. It reached English by 1780s as stevedore. Borrowed in Atlantic ports that traded with Spain. Today, stevedore means a person employed in loading and unloading ships.