Where does “tickler file” come from?

tickler file (English) comes from English tickler, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

tickler file (English): A collection of folders in which documents are filed according to the future date on which each will need action

Definitions

  1. A collection of folders in which documents are filed according to the future date on which each will need action

Ancestry of “tickler file”, step by step

tickler file traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English tickler

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishticklerOne who tickles; A person who or thing which...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English filé

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfiléA spicy herb made from the dried and ground...
2Frenchfilépast participle of filer; simple or twisted...
3Frenchfilerto spin; to thread through; to spin a thread
4Latinfīlāre
5Latinfīlumthread, string, filament, fiber
6Proto-Italicfī(s)lom
7Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷʰiH-(s-)lo-
Every word from Chichewa iye
tickler file — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer