Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tether” come from?

Tether derives from Middle English tether, from Old English tēoder, from Old Norse tjóðr, from Proto-Germanic teudrą, from Proto-Indo-European dewk-.

tether (English): a rope, cable etc. that holds something in place...

Definitions

  1. a rope, cable etc. that holds something in place...

Ancestry of “tether”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtether—
2Old Englishtēoder—
3Proto-GermanicteudrąThat which is tugged or pulled on, tether; A...
4Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “tether”

  • tethering
  • tetherball
  • untether
  • detethering
  • tetherless
  • retether
  • detether
  • tetherable
  • tetherin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →