An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The forepart of a ship or boat; bow; opposite to stern or poop→ Puppis.

Etymology (EN): From M.Fr. proue, from Upper It. (Genoese) prua, from L. prora “prow,” from Gk. proira, related to pro “before, forward,” → pro-.

Etymology (PE): Farâl, from farâ “forward” (farâ raftan “to go forward, proceed,” farâ rândan “to drive forward”), equivalent to → pro-, + relation suffix -âl, → -al. Compare farâl with prow “bow,” Fr. la proue “prow, bow,” from dialectal It. proa, prua, from L. prora “bow,” from Gk. proira, related to pro “before, forward.”