Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “tayl” come from?

tayl (Middle English) comes from Old English tæġl, from Proto-Germanic taglą, from Proto-Indo-European doḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European deḱ- — take; perceive.

tayl (Middle English): A tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A...

Definitions

  1. A tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A...

Ancestry of “tayl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtæġltail
2Proto-Germanictagląhair; ponytail; hair of a tail; tail
3Proto-Indo-Europeandoḱ-hair of the tail
4Proto-Indo-Europeandeḱ-take; perceive

Words derived from “tayl”

  • tail
  • tailed
  • ponytail
  • tailing
  • tailings
  • pigtail
  • dovetail
  • tailgate
  • tailbone
  • tailspin
  • tailless
  • fantail
  • tailpiece
  • tailpipe
  • wagtail
  • swallowtail
  • whitetail
  • horsetail
  • cottontail
  • bobtail
  • shirttail
  • tailback
  • yellowtail
  • taillight
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deḱ- →