Where does “rooftop” come from?
Rooftop derives from English top combined with roof, which comes from Middle English roven, from Proto-Germanic tuppaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- meaning head or top.
rooftop (English): The area atop a roof; The top layer of a roof;...
Definitions
- The area atop a roof; The top layer of a roof;...
Ancestry of “rooftop”, step by step
rooftop traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English top
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | top | The highest or uppermost part of something; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | top | The summit or top of something, especially a... |
| 3 | Old English | topp | top, summit (of something) |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *topp | top, summit, crest |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | tuppaz | tuft, plait; top, summit |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dumb- | tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,... |
via English Roof
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Roof | A Chinese constellation located near Aquarius and Pegasus, one of the 28 lunar mansions and part of the larger Black Turtle |
| 2 | Middle English | rof | A roof; A house or building; a edifice used for... |
| 3 | Old English | hrōf | roof, ceiling; top, summit; heaven, sky |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hrōfą | roof |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | krāpo- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | krāwə- | to cover, heap |