It comes from the Greek word "nautes" (ναύτης), which meant "sailor" or "mariner."
Here are some examples of words that use the root "naute":
* Nautical: related to ships, sailors, or navigation.
* Nautilus: a type of sea snail with a spiral shell.
* Astronaut: a person who travels in space. (Though it uses the root "astro" meaning "star," it also implies a "sailor" of the stars.)
* Argonaut: a member of the crew of Jason's ship, the Argo.
It's interesting to note that "naute" is also related to the Greek word "naus" (ναῦς), which means "ship."