Where does “tool” come from?

Tool comes from Middle English tool, from Old English tyllan, from Proto-Indo-European dol-, dol-, del-, del-, and dewh₂-, with ultimate origins obscure.

tool (English): A mechanical device intended to make a task...

Definitions

  1. A mechanical device intended to make a task...

Ancestry of “tool”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishtoolA tool, implement, or instrument; A instrument of...
2Old Englishtōltool, implement, instrument
3Proto-Germanictōlątool
4Proto-Indo-Europeandewh₂-to fit

Words derived from “tool”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewh₂- →