Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “high-tail it” come from?

high-tail it (English) comes from English hightail it, from English high, from Middle English heigh, from Old English hēah, from Old English hām, from Proto-West Germanic haim, from Proto-Germanic haimaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóymos — to be lying down; to settle.

high-tail it (English): Alternative spelling of hightail it

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of hightail it

Ancestry of “high-tail it”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhightail itTo hurry or run; often, to flee
2EnglishhighElevated, extending above a base or average...
3Middle Englishheighhigh; Alternative form of hey; Alternative form...
4Old Englishhēahhigh, tall, lofty, high-class, exalted, sublime,...
5Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
6Proto-West Germanichaimhome
7Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →