Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tatu” come from?

tatu (English) comes from English tattoo, from English tap-to, from Dutch taptoe, from Dutch tap, from Middle Dutch tappe, from Old Dutch tappo, from Frankish tappō, from Proto-Germanic tappô — to share, divide.

tatu (English): Archaic form of tattoo; Alternative form of tatou

Definitions

  1. Archaic form of tattoo; Alternative form of tatou

Ancestry of “tatu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtattooAn image made in the skin with ink and a needle;...
2Englishtap-to—
3Dutchtaptoetattoo, military-style music parade; sign given...
4Dutchtaptap
5Middle Dutchtappeclosing pin, stopper
6Old Dutchtappo—
7Frankishtappō—
8Proto-Germanictappôplug; tap
9Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
10Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →