road

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*reydʰ-“to ride”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*raidō“a ride”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*raidu
4. Old English · inherited fromrād“riding, hostile incursion”
5. Middle English · inherited fromrode
6. English todayroad

From Middle English rode, rade (“ride, journey”), from Old English rād (“riding, hostile incursion”), from Proto-West Germanic *raidu, from Proto-Germanic *raidō (“a ride”), from Proto-Indo-European *reydʰ- (“to ride”). Doublet of raid, acquired from Scots. Cognates include West Frisian reed (paved trail/road, driveway). The current primary meaning of "street, way for traveling" originated relatively late — Shakespeare seemed to expect his audiences to find it unfamiliar — and probably arose through reinterpretation of roadway (“a way for riding on”) as saying way twice, in other words as a tautological compound.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. A way used for travelling between places, originally one wide enough to allow foot passengers and horses to travel, now (US) usually one surfaced with asphalt or concrete and designed to accommodate many vehicles travelling in both directions. In the UK both senses are heard: a country road is the same as a country lane.
• from 17th c. A path chosen, as in life or career.
• from 18th c. An underground tunnel in a mine.
• from 19th c. A single railroad track (railway track).
• 9th–17th c. The act of riding on horseback.
• 9th–19th c. A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid.
• from 14th c. A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead.