Where does “tarball” come from?
tarball (English) comes from English tar, from Middle English ter, from Old English teoru, from Old English teru, from Proto-Germanic terwą, from Pre-Germanic derwom, from English doru, from Ancient Greek δόρυ — hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree.
tarball (English): A ball of tar or crude oil found on a beach; A...
Definitions
- A ball of tar or crude oil found on a beach; A...
Ancestry of “tarball”, step by step
tarball traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English tar
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tar | A black, oily, sticky, viscous substance,... |
| 2 | Middle English | ter | Tar or a similar substance; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old English | teoru | Alternative spelling of teru |
| 4 | Old English | teru | tar, resin; earwax |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | terwą | tar |
| 6 | Pre-Germanic | derwom | — |
| 7 | English | doru | Alternative form of dory |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | δόρυ | wood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,... |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | dóru | tree |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dóru | tree |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | drew- | hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree |
via English Ball
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ball | surname |
| 2 | Middle English | bal | A ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,... |
| 3 | Old English | beall | ball |
| 4 | English | beal | A small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather... |
| 5 | Old English | hyll | hill |
| 6 | Albanian | hulli | furrow |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | hulliz | hill |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kl̥Hnís | hill |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kelH- | to rise, to be tall; hill |