Where does “tarmac” come from?
Tarmac comes from English tar combined with macadam, where tar derives from Arabic طار, ultimately tracing through Proto-Indo-European roots related to tree wood and substances derived from it.
tarmac (English): Tarmacadam; Any bituminous road surfacing...
Definitions
- Tarmacadam; Any bituminous road surfacing...
Ancestry of “tarmac”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tarmacadam | A mixture of tar and small stones used in paving;... |
| 2 | English | tar | A black, oily, sticky, viscous substance,... |
| 3 | Middle English | ter | Tar or a similar substance; Alternative form of... |
| 4 | Old English | teoru | Alternative spelling of teru |
| 5 | Old English | teru | tar, resin; earwax |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | terwą | tar |
| 7 | Pre-Germanic | derwom | — |
| 8 | English | doru | Alternative form of dory |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | δόρυ | wood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,... |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | dóru | tree |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | dóru | tree |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | drew- | hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree |