tandem

Where does the word "tandem" come from? It comes from Latin tandem, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).

Tandem’s story begins in Latin: tandem meant “at length, at last.” An adverb of time. It reached English by 1780s as tandem. A university pun on 'at length' for horses harnessed one behind another; the two-seat bicycle followed. Today, tandem means a bicycle for two riders; alongside each other.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tandem "at length, at last", an adverb of time.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1780s tandem "one behind another", a university pun on 'at length' for horses harnessed one behind another; the two-seat bicycle followed.