buoy
UK[bɔɪ]US[ˈbuː.i]
n
a floating object anchored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, or indicate a navigable channel.
v
to keep someone or something afloat.
v
to cause someone to feel cheerful or confident; to sustain or uplift.
Etymology
the word 'buoy' entered english in the late 13th century from middle dutch 'boeye' or old french 'boie', meaning a fetter or a float. these likely derive from a hypothetical west germanic source 'baukna-', signifying a signal or beacon. the semantic journey is from a physical object used for signaling or restraining to its modern nautical sense of a floating marker, and later to the metaphorical verb meaning to keep afloat or uplift in spirit.
Analysis
the entire word 'buoy' functions as a simplex unit.
Examples
the red buoy marks the edge of the safe swimming area.
the life jacket helped buoy the shipwrecked sailor until rescue arrived.
she was buoyed by the encouraging feedback from her colleagues.