Where does “quilltail” come from?

quilltail (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.

quilltail (English): The ruddy duck

Definitions

  1. The ruddy duck

Ancestry of “quilltail”, step by step

quilltail 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 quill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishquillThe lower shaft of a feather, specifically the...
2Middle Englishquil
3Middle Low Germanquiele
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European doḱ-Every word from Proto-Germanic taglą
quilltail — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer