Where does “tail end” come from?
tail end (English) comes from Middle English taylende, from Middle English ende, from Old English ende, from Proto-Germanic andi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- — on, onto.
tail end (English): The hindmost part of anything (a person, animal, or object), the rear end; the butt, buttocks; hindquarters, rump
Definitions
- The hindmost part of anything (a person, animal, or object), the rear end; the butt, buttocks; hindquarters, rump
Ancestry of “tail end”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | taylende | The hind-quarters; the back of one's body; The... |
| 2 | Middle English | ende | The end or finishing of a thing; the terminal... |
| 3 | Old English | ende | end, limit, border, corner |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | andi | in addition, furthermore, and |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |