Where does “tailspin” come from?
Tailspin comes from English tail and Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to turn or rotate.
tailspin (English): The rapid, uncontrollable descent of an aircraft...
Definitions
- The rapid, uncontrollable descent of an aircraft...
Ancestry of “tailspin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | spin | To rotate, revolve, gyrate ; to partially or... |
| 2 | Middle English | spinnen | To spin or convert fibre into yarn; To make... |
| 3 | Old English | spinnan | to spin |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |