Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tipping” come from?

Tipping derives from English tip combined with the Middle English gerund suffix -ing, which comes from Old English -ing, ultimately from Proto-Germanic tuppaz and Proto-Indo-European dumb-.

tipping (English): The practice of leaving a tip; The act by which...

Definitions

  1. The practice of leaving a tip; The act by which...

Ancestry of “tipping”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-ingUsed to form gerunds, a type of verbal nouns,...
2Old English-ingForming nouns from verbs, indicating action,...
3Old English-tūn—
4Old Englishtūnenclosure, yard; place; dwelling
5Proto-West Germanictūnfence
6Proto-Germanictūnąfence; enclosure
7Gaulishdunumfort; hill, hillfort
8Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “tipping”

  • antitipping
  • nontipping
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →