Etymologically
Log in

submersible

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the English word submersible

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1807 a translation in A. Wilson's Naval History More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Latin submergō

Pronunciation

  • UK: /səbˈmɜːsəb(ə)l/, /sʌbˈmɜːsəb(ə)l/[1]
  • US: /səbˈmɝːsəb(ə)l/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English submerse + -ible,[2][3][4][5] probably after French submersible.[3] The revised OED takes the first part from Latin submers-, the past participial stem of submergō (“to plunge under”) (see submerge), and compares New Latin submersibilis (1810 or earlier) and the French adjective, used in botany before 1799 and generally from 1845.[6] The form submergible, from submerge, is recorded from 1820.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

That may be sunk or submerged, or can work under water, especially of a vessel: 1807, in a translation printed in A. Wilson's naval history.[6][2] Etymonline dates the adjective to 1862.[5]

Semantic evolution

From 1900 the adjective was used as a noun for a submersible vessel,[6][2][5] after the earlier noun submarine;[6] it now usually means a small submarine, especially one used for underwater exploration, research or drilling.[6][7]

Timeline

  • 1807 – able to be submerged or to work under water.[6][2]
  • 1900 – noun, a vessel that can operate under water.[6][2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Able to be submerged, or designed to work under water: a submersible pump.[7][2][6]

Noun

  1. A vessel built to operate under water, especially a small submarine used for deep-sea research or work.[7][2][6]

Word family

  • submersibility
  • nonsubmersible
  • unsubmersible
  • semisubmersible

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  5. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Submersible.” Etymologically, 13 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/en/submersible. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·