Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “taillight” come from?

taillight (English) comes from English Light, from Middle English light, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic leuht, from Proto-Germanic leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European lewktom, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.

taillight (English): One of a pair of red lights mounted on the rear...

Definitions

  1. One of a pair of red lights mounted on the rear...

Ancestry of “taillight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLight—
2Middle EnglishlightThe radiation which allows for vision by...
3Old Englishlēohtluminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,...
4Proto-West Germanicleuhtlight, bright; light
5Proto-Germanicleuhtąlight
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewktom—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk- →