Where does “tough” come from?

tough (Middle English) comes from Old English tōh, from Proto-West Germanic *tą̄h(ī), from Proto-Germanic tanhuz, from Proto-Indo-European denḱ- — to bite.

tough (Middle English): Alternative form of tow

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of tow

Ancestry of “tough”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtōhtough, tenacious, holding fast together; pliant;...
2Proto-West Germanic*tą̄h(ī)tough
3Proto-Germanictanhuzholding together; clinging; sticky; tenacious;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeandenḱ-to bite

Words derived from “tough”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European denḱ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic tanhuz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic *tą̄h(ī) →