Where does “topsy-turvily” come from?
topsy-turvily (English) comes from English topsy-turvy, from English tops, 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,...
topsy-turvily (English): In a topsy-turvy manner, chaotically
Definitions
- In a topsy-turvy manner, chaotically
Ancestry of “topsy-turvily”, step by step
topsy-turvily traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English topsy-turvy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | topsy-turvy | Backwards or upside down; also, having been... |
| 2 | English | tops | At the very most; as a maximum; Great; excellent;... |
| 3 | English | top | The highest or uppermost part of something; A... |
| 4 | Middle English | top | The summit or top of something, especially a... |
| 5 | Old English | topp | top, summit (of something) |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | *topp | top, summit, crest |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | tuppaz | tuft, plait; top, summit |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dumb- | tail, rod, staff, pole, penis; tail, rod, staff,... |