Where does “double take” come from?
double take (English) comes from English take, from Middle English taken, from Old English tācen, from Old Norse tekinn, from Proto-Germanic tēkanaz, from Proto-Germanic tēkaną, from Proto-Indo-European deh₁g- — to touch.
double take (English): An abrupt movement, used, for example, as a...
Definitions
- An abrupt movement, used, for example, as a...
Ancestry of “double take”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | take | To get into one's hands, possession, or control,... |
| 2 | Middle English | taken | to take; Alternative form of token; Alternative... |
| 3 | Old English | tācen | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | tekinn | past participle of taka; take, took, taken |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | tēkanaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | tēkaną | to touch; to grasp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₁g- | to touch |