EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

toad

a tailless amphibian with dry warty skin

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "toad" come from? It comes from Old English tādige, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "toad" come from? It comes from Old English tādige, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Toad’s story begins in Old English: tādige meant “toad.” Of unknown origin, with no relatives in other languages. It reached English by 1500s as toad. A 'toady' was first a 'toad-eater', a quack's assistant who pretended to swallow toads so his master could 'cure' him. Today, toad means a tailless amphibian with dry warty skin.

  1. Stage 1 · Old English · 700s-1000s tādige "toad", of unknown origin, with no relatives in other languages.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s toad "toad", a 'toady' was first a 'toad-eater', a quack's assistant who pretended to swallow toads so his master could 'cure' him.

Browse by origin