Where does “tall” come from?
tall (Middle English) comes from Old English tæl, from Proto-Germanic talaz, from Ottoman Turkish طالاز, from Old Anatolian Turkish طلز, from Greek θάλασσα, from Ancient Greek θάλασσα — sea; the Mediterranean Sea; channel.
Ancestry of “tall”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | tæl | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | talaz | pliable, bendsome; submissive, hearsome, quick to... |
| 3 | Ottoman Turkish | طالاز | — |
| 4 | Old Anatolian Turkish | طلز | — |
| 5 | Greek | θάλασσα | sea; storm |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | θάλασσα | sea; the Mediterranean Sea; channel |
Words derived from “tall”