Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tarbrush” come from?

tarbrush (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.

tarbrush (English): A brush used for applying tar

Definitions

  1. A brush used for applying tar

Ancestry of “tarbrush”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtarA black, oily, sticky, viscous substance,...
2Middle EnglishterTar or a similar substance; Alternative form of...
3Old EnglishteoruAlternative spelling of teru
4Old Englishterutar, resin; earwax
5Proto-Germanicterwątar
6Pre-Germanicderwom—
7EnglishdoruAlternative form of dory
8Ancient Greekδόρυwood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,...
9Proto-Hellenicdórutree
10Proto-Indo-Europeandórutree
11Proto-Indo-Europeandrew-hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree
Every word from Proto-Indo-European drew- →