Midship
/ˈmɪdˌʃɪp/noun
The middle part of a ship's hull.
Did you know?In naval usage, *midship* became important because the ship’s middle was the most stable place for handling weight, which is why *midshipman* emerged as a key training rank.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
mid
“middle, central”
Old English
OE
scip
“ship”
Middle English
ME
midship
“the middle part of a ship”
16th–17th Century
English
midship
“the central area of a vessel, especially where the hull is broadest”
Modern English
English
midship
“the middle part of a ship's hull”