toe

Where does the word "toe" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic taihwǭ, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Toe’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: taihwǭ meant “toe.” Perhaps from a root meaning to point or show, like Latin 'digitus'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as tā. Its plural was 'tān'. It reached English by 1500s as toe. 'tiptoe' is recorded from the 1300s. Today, toe means one of the digits of the foot.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient taihwǭ "toe", perhaps from a root meaning to point or show, like Latin 'digitus'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s tā "toe", its plural was 'tān'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s toe "toe", 'tiptoe' is recorded from the 1300s.