bridge
A structure spanning and providing passage over a river, road, or other obstacle.
Etymology
From Old English brycg, from Proto-Germanic *brugjō. This traces to PIE *bʰruH- meaning "beam, bridge, plank." The same root gave the word "brow" (the bridge of bone over the eye). Bridge-building was a significant achievement in early societies.
The Journey: *bʰruH- → bridge
*bʰruH-
*brugjō
brycg
bridge
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *bʰruH-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Greek | (none direct) |
| Latin | (none direct) |
| Gaulish | brīva (bridge) |
| Old Norse | bryggja (pier) |
| Old High German | brucca |
| Old Church Slavonic | brŭvĭno (beam) |
Did You Know?
The word "brow" (eyebrow) comes from the same PIE root *bʰruH-, as the brow-ridge forms a bridge-like beam over the eye. The Latin word for bridge, pōns, gave English "pontiff" — originally the "bridge-builder" priest.
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰruH-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.