Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A rotational motion, especially that given to a...

Ancestry of “topspin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspinTo rotate, revolve, gyrate ; to partially or...
2Middle EnglishspinnenTo spin or convert fibre into yarn; To make...
3Old Englishspinnanto spin
4Proto-Germanicspinnanąto spin
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pénh₁-ne-—
6Proto-Indo-European(s)penh₁-to twist; to weave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁- →