Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “toehold” come from?

Toehold comes from English hold and English hole, tracing back through Old English hold to Proto-Indo-European kel- meaning to conceal or cover.

toehold (English): A foothold small enough to support just the toe;...

Definitions

  1. A foothold small enough to support just the toe;...

Ancestry of “toehold”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishholdTo grasp or grip; To contain or store; "To...
2EnglishholeA hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit;...
3Middle Englishholehealthy; safe; whole, complete, full
4Old Englishhola hole, a hollow; calumny; slander
5Proto-West Germanicholhollow; hole
6Proto-Germanichuląa hollow; depression; hole
7Proto-Germanichulazhollow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →