passbook
UK[ˈpɑːsbʊk]US[ˈpæsbʊk]
n
a small book issued by a bank or building society to an account holder, in which deposits, withdrawals, and interest are recorded.
n
(historical) a document used to control the movements and employment of certain groups, especially in South Africa under apartheid.
Morpheme Breakdown
pass
book
pass
for authorizing passage or transaction
book
Etymology
The word 'passbook' is a transparent compound formed within Modern English from the native Germanic word 'book' and the Romance-derived word 'pass'. The term 'book' has maintained its core meaning of a written record since its Proto-Germanic origins. 'Pass' entered English from French, carrying the sense of "to go by or through," which evolved to mean official permission for movement or action. The compound logically describes a booklet that serves as a record ('book') of transactions or that authorizes ('passes') certain actions, such as accessing funds or, historically, permitting movement under restrictive laws. Its specific application to banking and to apartheid-era control documents reflects how this simple descriptive term was adopted for significant socio-economic functions.
Analysis
Structure: pass + book
pass: From Middle English 'passen', from Old French 'passer', from Latin 'passus' (step, pace). In this compound, it functions as a modifier meaning "for authorizing passage or transaction".
book: From Old English 'bōc' (book, document), from Proto-Germanic 'bōks'. It functions as the head noun, indicating the object is a bound collection of pages or a record.
Examples
She updated her passbook after making a deposit at the bank.
In the past, workers were required to carry their passbooks at all times.
The interest earned this quarter is noted in the final column of your passbook.