Navigable
/ˈnæv.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/noun
Able to be sailed on, traveled through, or passed by.
Did you know?Its root ultimately comes from Latin *navis* (“ship”), and the same ancient family also gave English words tied to ships, sailors, and even naval power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*néh₂us
“ship”
Latin
Latin
navis
“ship”
Late Latin
Latin
navigābilis
“able to be sailed; navigable”
Old French
Old French
navigable
“fit for sailing or being sailed”
Middle English
English
navigable
“able to be sailed on or passed through”
Modern English
English
navigable
“able to be sailed on, traveled through, or passed by”