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What Is the Origin of the Word Nave?

The word "nave" indicates a central part of a Christian church, with roots that reach all the way back to medieval times. Interestingly, the origin of this word does not indicate a religious or spiritual term at all. Instead this architectural term indicates a part of a ship, and shares these nautical roots with the same Latin word from which the word "navy" originates.

Nautical Origins
- The word "nave" is derived from the Latin word "navis," which can be traced back to the origin of the word "navy" and "navigate." Churches built in medieval times were ornate, impressive structures that shared a similarity in shape to a ship. In the 17th century, the Latin term "navis" was anglicized to "nave." A nave described the main structure of the church that separated the entrance from the area around the altar.
Nautical Christian Symbolism
- Aside from the architectural similarity of the nave to the shape of a ship, nautical symbols also represent certain elements of Christianity as well. Ships were used figuratively in key Biblical stories, such as Noah's Ark and miracles attributed to Jesus. Not only was Jesus able to calm hurricane-force winds, but Jesus also walked out onto the sea and encouraged the discipline Peter to do likewise. For the church, a ship represents a safe harbor for believers.
Basilica Origins in Christian Architecture
- The Roman hall of justice, or basilica, inspired builders for their places of worship in the early days of Christianity, where naves were covered by wood and lit by rows of high windows. More Gothic approaches were added in medieval times, when naves featured dramatic vaulted ceilings. Historically these structures included elegant arches and columns, and in medieval times many different compartments, or bays, repeated themselves to give the illusion of greater length along the main aisle of the center part of the church.
Medieval Cruciform Style
- The nave was the part of the church typically reserved for worshipers, who were separated from the clergy and the choir in more traditional services. In the medieval cruciform style cathedral the nave was the large, narrow portion of the church that separated the entrance, or narthex, from the crossing transept, or rectangular space used for the increasing number of clergy utilized in services. Beyond the transept was the chancel, or choir, then the altar and apse, thus creating a cross-like structure.

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