Where does “topcoat” come from?

topcoat (English) comes from English top, from Middle English top, from Old English topp, from Proto-West Germanic *topp, from Proto-Germanic tuppaz, from Proto-Indo-European dumb- — tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,...

topcoat (English): A light overcoat; A layer of paint or varnish...

Definitions

  1. A light overcoat; A layer of paint or varnish...

Ancestry of “topcoat”, step by step

topcoat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English top

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtopThe highest or uppermost part of something; A...
2Middle EnglishtopThe summit or top of something, especially a...
3Old Englishtopptop, summit (of something)
4Proto-West Germanic*topptop, summit, crest
5Proto-Germanictuppaztuft, plait; top, summit
6Proto-Indo-Europeandumb-tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,...

via English coat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoatAn outer garment covering the upper torso and...
2Middle EnglishcoteA coat, especially one worn as an undergarment or...
3Old Frenchcotteovershirt, tunic
4Frankishkottacoat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dumb-