Where does “tarry” come from?

Tarry comes from Middle English tarien, Old English tirgan, Proto-Germanic targijaną, and Proto-Indo-European deregʰ-, though the original meaning is uncertain.

tarry (English): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or...

Definitions

To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or...

Ancestry of “tarry”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	tarien	to vex, harass, cause to hesitate, delay
2	Old English	tirian	—
3	Proto-Germanic	terganą	—
4	Proto-Indo-European	derHgʰ-	to tug, to stretch; to pluck

Words derived from “tarry”

tarrieth
tarriance
tarriness
tarrily

Every word from Proto-Indo-European derHgʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic terganą →Every word from Old English tirian →