Where does “forktail” come from?

forktail (English) comes from English Tail, from Middle English tayl, from Old English tæġl, from Proto-Germanic taglą, from Proto-Indo-European doḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European deḱ- — take; perceive.

forktail (English): Any of various small insectivorous birds in the...

Definitions

  1. Any of various small insectivorous birds in the...

Ancestry of “forktail”, step by step

forktail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Tail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishTailA Chinese constellation coinciding with the tail of Scorpius, one of the 28 lunar mansions and the tail of Azure Dragon
2Middle EnglishtaylA tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A...
3Old Englishtæġltail
4Proto-Germanictagląhair; ponytail; hair of a tail; tail
5Proto-Indo-Europeandoḱ-hair of the tail
6Proto-Indo-Europeandeḱ-take; perceive

via English fork

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishforkA pronged tool having a long straight handle,...
2Middle EnglishforkeA fork or graip; A fork-shaped fire iron; A...
3Old Englishforce(found in compounds)
4Proto-West Germanicfurkōfork
5LatinfurcaA two-pronged fork, pitchfork; A fork-shaped...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deḱ-