köken: From Latin practicus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós, “of or relating to action, concerned with action or business, active, practical”), from πράσσω (prássō, “to do”).
köken: Ellipsis of lotsman, from Middle Low German lōtsman, from Middle English lodesman (“pilot”). Cognate with English lode (“waterway”), German Lotse, Dutch loods.
Shortened from earlier Lootsmann, which is borrowed via Middle Low German lōtsman from Middle English lodesman (“pilot”), cognate with English lode (“waterway”). Compare Dutch loods from the same source.