Where does “ton” come from?

ton (Middle English) comes from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos, from Proto-Indo-European ten- — to stretch, to extend.

Ancestry of “ton”, step by step

ton traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin tonus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatintonusThe stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;...
2Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
3Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
4Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
5Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend

via Old English tān

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtānsprig, twig; twig, switch
2Proto-West Germanic*taintwig
3Proto-Germanictainazrod; twig; straw; lot
4Proto-Indo-Europeandoynos—

Words derived from “ton”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European tónos →Every word from Proto-Hellenic tónos →