Where does “pigtail” come from?
Pigtail derives from English pig, from Middle English pigge, from Old English picga, from Proto-Germanic taglą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to show or point.
pigtail (English): A braided plait of hair; Either of two braids or...
Definitions
- A braided plait of hair; Either of two braids or...
Ancestry of “pigtail”, step by step
pigtail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Tail
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Tail | A Chinese constellation coinciding with the tail of Scorpius, one of the 28 lunar mansions and the tail of Azure Dragon |
| 2 | Middle English | tayl | A tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A... |
| 3 | Old English | tæġl | tail |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | taglą | hair; ponytail; hair of a tail; tail |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | doḱ- | hair of the tail |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | deḱ- | take; perceive |