Davit
/ˈdeɪ.vɪt/noun
A small crane or projecting arm on a ship used for handling anchors, boats, or other heavy equipment.
Did you know?The exact naming path is uncertain, but English “davit” is widely connected through French and Dutch forms to the biblical name David.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
Dāwīḏ
“David, traditionally interpreted as “beloved””
Late Antiquity
Greek
Dauíd
“The personal name David in Greek biblical tradition”
Late Antiquity
Latin
David
“The biblical personal name David”
Middle Ages
Old French
davit
“A form associated with the name David; the precise development into the nautical term is uncertain”
16th–17th Century
Dutch/French
davit
“A shipboard crane or projecting support for lifting equipment”
17th Century–Modern English
English
davit
“A small ship’s crane or arm used especially for handling boats or anchors”