Where does “toothpaste” come from?

Toothpaste derives from English tooth combined with paste, which comes from Middle English paste, from Ancient Greek παστά (pastá), from παστός (pastós), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed-, meaning to eat.

toothpaste (English): A paste, normally used with a toothbrush, for...

Definitions

  1. A paste, normally used with a toothbrush, for...

Ancestry of “toothpaste”, step by step

toothpaste traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English tooth

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtoothA hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth...
2Middle EnglishtothAlternative form of tothe
3Old Englishtōþtooth
4Proto-Germanictanþstooth
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃dóntstooth
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat

via English paste

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpasteA soft moist mixture, in particular; A substance...
2Middle Englishpastedough for the making of bread or pastry
3Old Frenchpastépie or a similar baked good
4Late Latinpastadough, pastry cake, paste; paste;...

Words derived from “toothpaste”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- →