Where does “tew” come from?

Tew derives from Middle English tewen and tawen, from Old English tawian, from Proto-Germanic tawjaną, tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root dewh₂-.

tew (English): A rope or chain for towing a boat; A cord; a...

Definitions

  1. A rope or chain for towing a boat; A cord; a...

Ancestry of “tew”, step by step

tew traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Welsh tew

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Welshtewthick, fat
2Welshpigbeak, bill; point, spike; spout
3Middle EnglishpykeA sharp round point or projection; A point or end...
4Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
5Proto-Germanic*pīk—
6Latinpixpitch, tar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

via Middle English tewen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtewen—
2Middle Englishtawento taw, prepare
3Old Englishtawianto prepare, make ready
4Proto-Germanic*tauwjan—
5Proto-Germanictawjanąto make, complete
6Proto-Indo-Europeandewh₂-to fit

via Old English Tīw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishTīwGermanic god of heroic glory
2Proto-GermanicTīwazof Tiw; god; Tyr, god of war
3Proto-Indo-Europeandeywósgod
4Proto-Indo-Europeandyew-to be bright; sky, heaven
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →