Where does “toothcombing” come from?

toothcombing (English) comes from English toothcomb, from English comb, from English combination, from Middle English combinacioun, from Old French combination, from Late Latin combinatio, from Latin combino, from Latin com- — resin.

toothcombing (English): Of an analysis, a search, etc.: very thorough; detailed

Definitions

  1. Of an analysis, a search, etc.: very thorough; detailed

Ancestry of “toothcombing”, step by step

toothcombing traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English toothcomb

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtoothcombA comb with finely spaced teeth, chiefly as a...
2EnglishcombA toothed implement for grooming the hair or for...
3EnglishcombinationThe act of combining, the state of being combined...
4Middle Englishcombinacioun
5Old Frenchcombination
6Late LatincombinatioA joining, two by two
7LatincombinoI combine, unite
8Latincom-allomorph of con-
9Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
10Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
11Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
12Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
14Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
15Middle Englishkyt
16Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
17Old High Germankuti
18Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
19Proto-Germanickweduzresin

via English ing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishingA meadow, especially a low meadow near a river;...
2Middle Englishing
3Old Englishingmeadow, water meadow, ing
4Old Norseengmeadow
5Proto-GermanicangijōA low lying meadow in a valley or near a river
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énkoscurve, bend
7Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...
Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz
toothcombing — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer