Where does “tarmacadam” come from?
tarmacadam (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.
tarmacadam (English): A mixture of tar and small stones used in paving;...
Definitions
- A mixture of tar and small stones used in paving;...
Ancestry of “tarmacadam”, step by step
tarmacadam 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 MacAdam
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | MacAdam | The surface of a road consisting of layers of crushed stone (usually tar-coated for modern traffic) |
| 2 | Scottish Gaelic | mac | son; Commonly used as a prefix of Irish and... |
| 3 | Middle Irish | mac | son |
| 4 | Old Irish | macc | son; child |
| 5 | Primitive Irish | ᚋᚐᚊᚊᚔ | Alternative form of ᚋᚐᚊᚔ |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | makkʷos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₂ḱ- | to raise, increase; long |