Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Torquay” come from?

Torquay derives from English tor, Middle English tor, Old French tor, Latin taurus, Latin tornare, and Proto-Indo-European roots ultimately meaning to turn or twist.

Ancestry of “Torquay”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishquayA stone or concrete structure on navigable water...
2Middle Englishkeye—
3Old Frenchkay—
4Gaulishkagyum—
5Proto-Celtickagyompen, enclosure
6Proto-Indo-Europeankagʰyómenclosure, hedge
7Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →