"to cross a body of water by walking on the bottom," 1610s, from ford, n.. Related: Forded; fording.

Old English ford "shallow place where water can be crossed," from Proto-Germanic *furduz (cognates: Old Frisian forda, Old High German furt, German Furt "ford"), from PIE *prtu- "a going, a passage" (cognates: Latin portus "harbor," originally "entrance, passage;" Old Welsh rit, Welsh rhyd "ford;" Old English faran "to go;" see port, n.1). The line of automobiles (company founded 1903) is named for U.S. manufacturer Henry Ford (1863-1947).