Etymonline/ship

O.E. scip "ship, boat," from P.Gmc. *skipam (cf. O.N., O.S., Goth. skip, Dan. skib, Swed. skepp, M.Du. scip, Du. schip, O.H.G. skif, Ger. Schiff), "Germanic noun of obscure origin" [Watkins]. Others suggest perhaps originally "tree cut out or hollowed out," and derive it from PIE base *skei- "to cut, split." The O.E. word was used for small craft as well; in 19c., distinct from a boat in having a bowsprit and three masts, each with a lower, top, and topgallant mast. Fr. esquif, It. schifo are Germanic loan-words. []
==Notes==
; Comments
: group=c
; Quotes
: group=q
; References
: group=r
; Wikis
: group=w
; Xternal links
: group=x