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

tooltip traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English tip

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,...

via English tool

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtoolA mechanical device intended to make a task...
2Middle EnglishtoolA tool, implement, or instrument; A instrument of...
3Old Englishtōltool, implement, instrument
4Proto-Germanictōlątool
5Proto-Indo-Europeandewh₂-to fit

Words derived from “tooltip”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dumb- →