Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Test” come from?

Test (English) comes from German testen, from German Test, from English test, from Middle English teste, from Old French teste, from Latin testis, from Latin terstis, from Latin trīstis — to stand.

Test (English): a Test match

Definitions

  1. a Test match

Ancestry of “Test”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germantestento test
2GermanTesttest; melting pot
3EnglishtestA challenge, trial; A cupel or cupelling hearth...
4Middle Englishteste—
5Old Frenchtestehead
6Latintestiswitness; one who testifies or attests; testicle
7Latinterstis—
8Latintrīstis—
9Proto-Indo-Europeantristh₂sa third party standing, after the two parties to...
10Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →