'amidship' originates from the combination of 'amid' and 'ship', where 'amid' meant 'in the middle of' and 'ship' referred to a vessel.

'amidship' changed from the Old English word 'on middan scip' and eventually became the modern English word 'amidship'.

Initially, it meant 'in the middle of the ship', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.