Where does “thumbtack” come from?
thumbtack (English) comes from English tack, from French tache, from Old French tasche, from Frankish taska, from Proto-Germanic taskǭ, from Proto-Indo-European das-, from Translingual da, from English deca- — Used to form the accusative case; -ed, -t. Used...
thumbtack (English): A small nail-like tack with a slightly rounded...
Definitions
- A small nail-like tack with a slightly rounded...
Ancestry of “thumbtack”, step by step
thumbtack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English tack
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tack | A small nail with a flat head; A thumbtack; A... |
| 2 | French | tache | blot, stain or smear; spot; more or less... |
| 3 | Old French | tasche | duty; obligation |
| 4 | Frankish | taska | pouch |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | taskǭ | bag, purse; pouch, pocket |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | das- | — |
| 7 | Translingual | da | — |
| 8 | English | deca- | Greek number... |
| 9 | French | déca- | deca- |
| 10 | Latin | decās | a decade (period of ten years) |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | δεκάς | the number ten; a group of ten, decade |
| 12 | Ancient Greek | -ᾰ́ς | group of |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | -ónts | Derives nouns denoting body parts |
| 14 | Hungarian | önt | to pour; to cast; accusative singular of ön |
| 15 | Hungarian | -t | Used to form the accusative case; -ed, -t. Used... |
via English thumb
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | thumb | The short thick digit of the hand that for humans... |
| 2 | Middle English | þombe | thumb; thumb-length; big toe |
| 3 | Old English | þūma | thumb |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | þūmō | thumb |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | þūmô | thumb |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tūm- | to grow; to swell, to increase; to swell, be... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | tewh₂- | to swell; to crowd; to be strong |