embark

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
embark/ɪmˈbɑːk/

▶verb

• 1 go on board a ship or aircraft.

• 2 (embark on/upon) begin (a new project or course of action).

– derivatives
embarkation noun.

– origin C16: from Fr. embarquer, from em- ‘in’ + barque ‘bark, ship’.