Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tapetail” come from?

tapetail (English) comes from English tape, from Middle English tape, from Old English tæppa, from Frankish tappō, from Proto-Germanic tappô, from Proto-Indo-European deh₂p-, from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- — to share, divide.

tapetail (English): The larval stage of the whalefishes

Definitions

  1. The larval stage of the whalefishes

Ancestry of “tapetail”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtapeFlexible material in a roll with a sticky surface...
2Middle EnglishtapeAlternative form of tappe; band, ribbon, tape
3Old Englishtæppatap, spigot; band, ribbon, tape
4Frankishtappō—
5Proto-Germanictappôplug; tap
6Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
7Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →