Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “toil” come from?

Toil comes from Anglo-Norman toilier, a verb of unknown ultimate origin and meaning.

toil (English): Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature;...

Definitions

  1. Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature;...

Ancestry of “toil”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtoilen, toylen—
2Anglo-Normantoillerto agitate, stir up, entangle; to dirty; to mark;...

Words derived from “toil”

  • toilsome
  • toiler
  • toilsomely
  • toilworn
  • toilful
  • toilfully
  • toileth
  • toilest
  • toilsomeness
  • overtoil
  • toilless
  • entoil
  • betoil
Every word from Anglo-Norman toiller →