Etymology Map
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Tight

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means fixed or fastened firmly; fitting closely

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

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

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.