Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “terry cloth” come from?

terry cloth (English) comes from English cloth, from Middle English cloþ, from Old English clāþ, from Proto-Germanic klaiþą, from Proto-Indo-European gleyt-, from Proto-Indo-European gley-, from Proto-Indo-European gel- — to be cold, to freeze.

terry cloth (English): An absorbent cotton fabric typically used for...

Definitions

  1. An absorbent cotton fabric typically used for...

Ancestry of “terry cloth”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclothA woven fabric such as used in dressing,...
2Middle EnglishcloþAlternative form of cloth; cloth, garment
3Old Englishclāþcloth, clothes, covering, sail
4Proto-Germanicklaiþącloth
5Proto-Indo-Europeangleyt-to cling to, cleave, stick
6Proto-Indo-Europeangley-to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze

Words derived from “terry cloth”

  • terrycloth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel- →