Where does “tintype” come from?

tintype (English) comes from English type, from Middle English type, from Latin typus, from Ancient Greek τύπος, from Ancient Greek τύπτω, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.

tintype (English): An early, remarkably durable form of photograph (technically a photographic negative), printed on a tin plate, then varnished

Definitions

  1. An early, remarkably durable form of photograph (technically a photographic negative), printed on a tin plate, then varnished

Ancestry of “tintype”, step by step

tintype traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English type

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtypeA grouping based on shared characteristics; a...
2Middle Englishtypesymbol, figure, emblem
3Latintypusfigure, image; type, form, sort, kind; form,...
4Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
5Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
6Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
7Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

via English tin

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtinA malleable, ductile, metallic element, resistant...
2Middle EnglishtinAlternative form of þin; tin
3Old Englishtintin
4Proto-West Germanic*tintin metal
5Proto-Germanictinątin
6Proto-Indo-Europeandinom

Words derived from “tintype

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-