Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tooltip” come from?

Tooltip is a back-formation from tool, which derives from Old English tyllan, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dewh₂- meaning to push or move.

tooltip (English): An element of a graphical user interface in the...

Definitions

  1. An element of a graphical user interface in the...

Ancestry of “tooltip”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtipThe extreme end of something, especially when...
2Middle Englishtip—
3Proto-Germanictuppijôto be atop
4Proto-Germanictuppaztuft, plait; top, summit
5Proto-Indo-Europeandumb-tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,...

Words derived from “tooltip”

  • Tooltip
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dumb- →