Where does “Ponytailgate” come from?

Ponytailgate (English) comes from English ponytail, from English pony, from Scots powny, from Middle French poulenet, from Latin pullanus, from Latin pullus, from Proto-Indo-European polHwós, from Proto-Indo-European pelH- — pale, gray.

Ponytailgate (English): A 2015 controversy around the alleged pulling of the hair of a young waitress by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key

Definitions

  1. A 2015 controversy around the alleged pulling of the hair of a young waitress by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key

Ancestry of “Ponytailgate”, step by step

Ponytailgate traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ponytail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishponytailA hairstyle where the hair is pulled back and...
2EnglishponyA small horse; specifically, any of several small...
3Scotspownypony
4Middle Frenchpoulenetlittle foal
5Latinpullanusyoung of an animal
6LatinpullusA young animal; darling; dark-colored; dusky
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpolHwóspale, gray
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpelH-pale, gray

via English gate

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgateA doorlike structure outside a house; Doorway,...
2Middle EnglishgateAn entryway or entrance to a settlement or...
3Old Englishġeatgate; a gate, door
4Old Frenchgautforest, woods, woodland
5Proto-West Germanicwalþuforest
6Proto-Germanicwalþuzforest
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwel-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European polHwósEvery word from Latin pullus
Ponytailgate — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer