Where does “sabertooth” come from?
sabertooth (English) comes from English tooth, from Middle English toth, from Old English tōþ, from Proto-Germanic tanþs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃dónts, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- — to eat.
sabertooth (English): A sabertooth tiger; Any animal with saber-like...
Definitions
- A sabertooth tiger; Any animal with saber-like...
Ancestry of “sabertooth”, step by step
sabertooth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English tooth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tooth | A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth... |
| 2 | Middle English | toth | Alternative form of tothe |
| 3 | Old English | tōþ | tooth |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | tanþs | tooth |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃dónts | tooth |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ed- | to eat |
via English saber
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | saber | Alternative form of sabre |