1533, from L. navigationem (nom. navigatio), from navigatus, pp. of navigare "to sail, sail over, go by sea, steer a ship," from navis "ship" (see naval) + root of agere "to drive" (see act). Navigable is attested from 1527; navigate is a back-formation, first attested 1588; later extended to balloons (1784) and aircraft.
[nav-i-gey-shuh
n] 