Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tensies” come from?

tensies (English) comes from English ten, from Middle English ten, from Old English tēon, from Old English tēohan, from Proto-West Germanic teuhan, from Proto-Germanic teuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European dewk- — to pull, to draw; to lead.

tensies (English): A call in any children's game, such as jacks,...

Definitions

  1. A call in any children's game, such as jacks,...

Ancestry of “tensies”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtenThe number occurring after nine and before...
2Middle Englishtenten; plural of tothe
3Old Englishtēonto drag, draw, pull; to train, discipline; to...
4Old Englishtēohan—
5Proto-West Germanicteuhanto pull; to lead
6Proto-Germanicteuhanąto lead; to pull behind oneself, draw, drag
7Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →