tight

Where does the word "tight" come from? It comes from Old Norse þéttr, passing through Middle English before entering English (1800s).

Tight’s story begins in Old Norse: þéttr meant “dense, watertight.” Described anything closely packed or watertight, such as a well-built ship. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as thight. The initial 'th' shifted to 't', probably influenced by words like 'taut'. It reached English by 1800s as tight. Picked up slang senses of 'drunk' and 'stingy' along the way. Today, tight means fixed or fastened firmly; fitting closely.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval þéttr "dense, watertight", described anything closely packed or watertight, such as a well-built ship.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1400s thight "dense, firm", the initial 'th' shifted to 't', probably influenced by words like 'taut'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s tight "fixed firmly; closely fitting", picked up slang senses of 'drunk' and 'stingy' along the way.