Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “toy” come from?

Toy comes from Middle English toye, of unknown origin and meaning.

toy (English): Something to play with, especially as intended...

Definitions

  1. Something to play with, especially as intended...

Ancestry of “toy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtoyeamorous play, piece of fun or entertainment
2Old Dutchtiug—
3Proto-Germanictiugijąstuff, gear, device
4Proto-Germanicteuhanąto lead; to pull behind oneself, draw, drag
5Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “toy”

  • toyshop
  • toylike
  • toymaker
  • toyman
  • toyish
  • toybox
  • toyboy
  • toymaking
  • boytoy
  • toyseller
  • playtoy
  • toyer
  • toystore
  • toyless
  • toyhouse
  • toyeth
  • toychest
  • toywoman
  • toyful
  • fucktoy
  • toyishly
  • toyest
  • toysome
  • toywort
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →