Where does “topspin” come from?
topspin (English) comes from English spin, from Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pénh₁-ne-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁- — to twist; to weave.
topspin (English): A rotational motion, especially that given to a...
Definitions
- A rotational motion, especially that given to a...
Ancestry of “topspin”, step by step
topspin traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English spin
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | spin | To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction |
| 2 | Middle English | spinnen | To spin or convert fibre into yarn; To make... |
| 3 | Old English | spinnan | to spin |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |
via English top
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | top | The highest or uppermost part of something; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | top | The summit or top of something, especially a... |
| 3 | Old English | topp | top, summit (of something) |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *topp | top, summit, crest |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | tuppaz | tuft, plait; top, summit |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dumb- | tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,... |