Where does “shavetail” come from?

shavetail (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.

shavetail (English): An inexperienced person, especially a...

Definitions

  1. An inexperienced person, especially a...

Ancestry of “shavetail”, step by step

shavetail 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 shave

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshaveTo make bald or shorter by using a tool such as a...
2Middle EnglishshaveA tool used for filing, shaving, or abrasion;...
3Old Englishsceafashave (tool), plane, paring knife
4Proto-Germanicskaubazbundle, sheaf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European doḱ-Every word from Proto-Germanic taglą
shavetail — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer