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Origin and history of navigation

navigation(n.)

1530s, "act of moving on water in ships or other vessels," from French navigation (14c.) or directly from Latin navigationem (nominative navigatio) "a sailing, navigation, voyage," noun of action from past-participle stem of navigare "to sail, sail over, go by sea, steer a ship," from navis "ship" (from PIE root *nau- "boat") + root of agere "to set in motion, drive, drive forward" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). Meaning "science or art of directing the course of vessels as they sail" is from 1550s.

The management of the sails, etc., the holding of the assigned course by proper steering, and the working of the ship generally pertain rather to seamanship, though necessary to successful navigation. The two fundamental problems of navigation are the determination of the ship's position at a given moment, and the decision of the most advantageous course to be steered in order to reach a given point. [Century Dictionary]

also from 1530s

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circumnavigate(v.)

"to sail round, pass round by water," 1630s, from Latin circumnavigatus, past participle of circumnavigare "to sail round," from circum "around" (see circum-) + navigare (see navigation). Related: Circumnavigated; circumnavigating; circumnavigable.

navigable(adj.)

mid-15c., "affording passage to ships," from Old French navigable (14c.) or directly from Latin navigabilis, from navigat-, past-participle stem of navigare "to pass over in a ship" (see navigation). Related: Navigability.

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navigate
1580s, "move from place to place in a ship, sail" (intrans.), a back-formation from navigation, or else from Latin navigatus, past-participle of navigare "to sail, sail over, go by sea, steer a ship," from navis "ship" (from PIE root *nau- "boat") + root of agere "to set in motio
navigator
1580s, "one who navigates, one who directs the course of a ship," from Latin navigator "sailor," agent noun from navigat-, stem of navigare "to sail, sail over" (see navigation). Meaning "laborer employed in excavating a canal" is by 1775, from sense in inland navigation "communi
sailing
Old English seglinge, "act of one who or that which sails," verbal noun from the source of sail (v.). Gradually coming also to mean "the art or rules of directing a ship." Figurative use of smooth sailing for "easy progress" is from 1840. Yes; I must press on this marriage; Geor
Polaris
The ancient Greeks called it Phoenice, "the Phoenician (star)," because the Phoenicians used it for navigation....The Old English word for it was Scip-steorra "ship-star," also reflecting its importance in navigation....
landfall
A word from the days of imprecise nautical navigation. Land-fall. The first land discovered after a sea voyage....
lodestar
as a surname), "a star that leads or serves to guide," an old name for the pole star as the star that "leads the way" in navigation...
sextant
instrument for determining latitude in navigation and surveying, 1620s, from Modern Latin sextans, which is said to have...
direction
late 14c., direccioun, "action of directing or guiding," from Latin directionem (nominative directio) "a making straight, a straight line, a directing (toward something)," noun of action from past-participle stem of dirigere "to set straight, arrange; give a particular direction
transport
late 14c., transporten, "convey from one place to another," from Old French transporter "carry or convey across; overwhelm (emotionally)" (14c.) or directly from Latin transportare "carry over, take across, convey, remove," from trans "beyond, across" (see trans-) + portare "to c
work
Old English weorc, worc "something done, discrete act performed by someone, action (whether voluntary or required), proceeding, business; that which is made or manufactured, products of labor," also "physical labor, toil; skilled trade, craft, or occupation; opportunity of expend

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