A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

Tartar --- c.1369 (implied in Tartary, "the land of the Tartars"), from M.L. Tartarus, from Pers. Tatar, first used 13c. in reference to the hordes of Ghengis Khan (1202-1227), said ult. to be from Tata, a name of the Mongols for themselves. Form in European languages probably influenced by L. Tartarus "hell" [e.g. letter of St. Louis of France, 1270: "In the present danger of the Tartars either we shall push them back into the Tartarus whence they are come, or they will bring us all into heaven"]. The historical word for what now are called in ethnological works Tatars. A Turkic people, their native region was east of the Caspian Sea. Ghengis' horde was a mix of Tatars. Mongols, Turks, etc. Used figuratively for "savage, rough, irascible person" (1663); Byron's tartarly (1821) is a nonce-word. To catch a Tartar "get hold of what cannot be controlled" is recorded from 1663; original sense not preserved, but probably from some military story similar to the old battlefield joke:

Tartuffe --- pretender to piety, 1676, from name of principal character in comedy by Molière (1664), apparently from O.Fr. tartuffe "truffle," chosen for suggestion of concealment (Tartuffe is a religious hypocrite).

Tarzan --- name of character in a series of novels by U.S. fiction writer Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), introduced 1914.

Taser --- 1972, formed from the initials of Tom Swift's electric rifle, a fictitious weapon.

task --- c.1300, "piece of work imposed as a duty," from O.N.Fr. tasque (13c., O.Fr. tasche, Fr. tâche) "duty, tax," from V.L. *tasca "a duty, assessment," metathesis of M.L. taxa, a back-formation of L. taxare "to evaluate, estimate, assess" (see tax). General sense of "any piece of work that has to be done" is first recorded 1593. Verb "to put a strain upon" is from 1598. Phrase take one to task (1682) preserves the sense that is closer to tax. Ger. tasche "pocket" is from the same V.L. source (via O.H.G. tasca), with presumable sense evolution from "amount of work imposed by some authority," to "payment for that work," to "wages," to "pocket into which money is put," to "any pocket." Task force is attested from 1941, originally military; taskmaster is from 1530.

Tass --- official news agency of the former U.S.S.R., an acronym of Rus. Telegrafnoje Agenstvo Sovjetskeho Sojuza "Telegraphic Agency of the Soviet Union."

tassel --- c.1300, "mantle fastener," from O.Fr. tassel "a fastening, clasp" (c.1150), from V.L. *tassellus, said to be from L. taxillus "small die or cube," a dim. of talus "knucklebone, ankle" (see talus (1)). But OED finds this doubtful and calls attention to the variant form tossel and suggests association with toss (v.). Meaning "hanging bunch of small cords" is first recorded c.1390.

taste (n.) --- c.1300, "act of tasting," from O.Fr. tast (Fr. tât), from taster (see taste (v.)). Meaning "faculty or sense by which flavor of a thing is discerned" is attested from c.1380. Meaning "savor, sapidity, flavor" is from 1382. Sense of "aesthetic judgment" is first attested 1671 (cf. Fr. goût, Ger. geschmack, Rus. vkus, etc.). Tasteful in this sense is from 1756.

taste (v.) --- c.1290, "to touch, to handle," from O.Fr. taster "to taste" (13c.), earlier "to feel, touch" (12c.), from V.L. *tastare, apparently an alteration of taxtare, a frequentative form of L. taxare "evaluate, handle" (see tax). Meaning "to take a little food or drink" is from c.1300; that of "to perceive by sense of taste" is recorded from 1340. Of substances, "to have a certain taste or flavor," it is attested from 1552 (replaced native smack (n.1) in this sense). Tasty is recorded from 1617; in late 18c. it also could mean "tasteful, elegant" (from the secondary sense of taste (n.)). For another PIE root in this sense, see gusto.

tat (v.) --- 1882, "to do tatting," back-formation from tatting.

tata --- good-bye, 1823, a word first recorded as infant's speech. Abbreviation T.T.F.N., "ta-ta for now," popularized 1941 by BBC radio program "ITMA," where it was the characteristic parting of the cockney cleaning woman character Mrs. Mopp, voiced by Dorothy Summers.

Tatar --- see Tartar.

tatter (v.) --- 1340 (implied in tattered "clad in slashed garments"), from O.N. toturr "rag," cognate with O.E. tættec, tætteca "rag, tatter," Low Ger. tater "tatter." The noun is attested from 1402.

tatterdemalion --- ragged child, person dressed in old clothes, 1608, probably from tatter, with fantastic second element, but perhaps also suggested by Tartar, with a contemporary sense of "vagabond, gypsy."

tattersall --- fabric with small and even check pattern, 1891, so called because it was similar to the traditional design of horse blankets, in ref. to Tattersall's, a famous London horse market and gambler's rendezvous, founded 1766 by Richard Tattersall (1724-95). The surname is from the place in Lincolnshire.

tatting --- making of knotted lace, 1842, of uncertain origin. In Fr., frivolité.

tattle --- 1481, "to stammer, prattle," in Caxton's translation of "Reynard the Fox," probably from M.Flem. tatelen "to stutter," parallel to M.Du., M.L.G., E.Fris. tateren "to chatter, babble," possibly of imitative origin. The meaning "tell tales or secrets" is first recorded 1581. Sense influenced by tittle. Tattletale formed in Eng. 1888, probably patterned on telltale (1548).

tattoo (1) --- signal, 1688, "signal calling soldiers or sailors to quarters at night," earlier tap-to (1644, in order of Col. Hutchinson to garrison of Nottingham), from Du. taptoe, from tap "faucet of a cask" (see tap (2)) + toe "shut." So called because police used to visit taverns in the evening to shut off the taps of casks. Transf. sense of "drumbeat" is recorded from 1755. Hence, Devil's tattoo "action of idly drumming fingers in irritation or impatience" (1803).

tattoo (2) --- mark the skin with pigment, 1769 (noun and ver, both first attested in writing of Capt. Cook), from a Polynesian noun (e.g. Tahitian and Samoan tatau, Marquesan tatu "puncture, mark made on skin").

tatty --- 1513, "tangled or matted" (of hair), Scottish, probably related to O.E. tættec "a rag" (see tatter). Sense of "tattered, ragged, shabby" first recorded 1933.

taught --- past tense of teach, from O.E. tahte (see teach).

taunt (v.) --- 1515, possibly from M.Fr. tanter, tenter "to tempt, try, provoke," variant of tempter "to try" (see tempt). Or from M.Fr. tant pour tant "so much for so much, tit for tat," on notion of "sarcastic rejoinder." The noun is attested from 1529.

taupe --- 1880s, "a mole," later (1911) "dark brownish-gray color" (the color of moleskin), from Fr. taupe, the color, originally "a mole," from L. talpa "a mole."

taurine --- chemical substance (amido-ethyl-sulphonic acid), 1845, from L. taurus "bull" (see steer (n.)) + chemical suffix -ine; obtained by L. Gmelin in 1826 and so called because it was first found in ox bile.

Taurus --- zodiac constellation, c.1391, from L. taurus "bull," from PIE *tauro- "bull" (cf. Gk. tauros, L. taurus "bull, bullock, steer;" O.C.S. turu "bull, steer;" Lith. tauras "aurochs;" O.Pruss. tauris "bison"), often said to be from PIE *steu-ro- "be big, be strong, be sturdy" (cf. Skt. sthura- "thick, compact," Avestan staora- "big cattle," M.Pers. stor "horse, draft animal," Goth. stiur "young bull," O.E. steor, see steer (n.)). Klein proposes a Sem. origin (cf. Aramaic tora "ox, bull, steer," Heb. shor, Arabic thor, Ethiopian sor). Meaning "person born under the sign of the bull" is recorded from 1901. Hence also tauromachy "bull-fighting," from Gk. tauromakhia (see -machy).

taut --- c.1325, tohte, possibly from tog-, pp. stem of O.E. teon "to pull, drag," from P.Gmc. *tugn, from PIE *deuk- "to lead" (see duke).

tautog --- edible marine fish of the Atlantic coast of N.America, 1643, from Narragansett tautauog, pl. of taut.

tautology --- 1579, from L.L. tautologia "representation of the same thing" (c.350), from Gk. tautologia, from tautologos "repeating what has been said," from tauto "the same" + -logos "saying," related to legein "to say" (see lecture).

tavern --- c.1297 (in Anglo-Fr. from 1286), "wine shop," later "public house" (c.1440), from O.Fr. taverne (1256) "shed made of boards, booth, stall," also "tavern, inn," from L. taberna "shop, inn, tavern," originally "hut, shed," possibly by dissimilation from *traberna, from trabs (gen. trabis) "beam, timber."

taw --- to prepare (leather), from O.E. tawian "to do, make," from P.Gmc. *tawojan (cf. O.Fris. tawa, O.S. toian, M.Du. tauwen, Du. touwen, O.H.G. zouwen "to prepare," O.H.G. zawen "to succeed," Goth. taujan "to make, prepare"), probably related to the root of O.E. tol "tool" (see tool).

tawdry --- cheap, showy, gaudy, 1676, adjective use of noun tawdry "silk necktie for women" (1612), shortened from tawdry lace (1548), an alteration of St. Audrey's lace, a necktie or ribbon sold at the annual fair at Ely on Oct. 17 commemorating St. Audrey (queen of Northumbria, died 679), whose name was worn down from O.E. Æðelðryð "noble might," from æðele "noble" (from P.Gmc. *athala-, from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond, super" + *al- "to nourish") + ðryð "might." Her association with cheap lace necklaces is that she supposedly died of a throat tumor, which she considered God's punishment for her youthful fondness for showy necklaces [Bede].

tawny --- tan-colored, 1377, from Anglo-Fr. tauné "associated with the brownish-yellow of tanned leather," from O.Fr. tané (12c.), pp. of taner "to tan hides," from M.L. tannare (see tan).

tax (v.) --- c.1290, from O.Fr. taxer "impose a tax" (13c.), from L. taxare "evaluate, estimate, assess, handle," also "censure, charge," probably a frequentative form of tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Sense of "burden, put a strain on" first recorded 1672; that of "censure, reprove" is from 1569. Use in Luke ii for Gk. apographein "to enter on a list, enroll" is due to Tyndale. The noun is recorded from 1327. Tax shelter is attested from 1961; taxpayer from 1816.

taxi --- 1907, shortening of taximeter cab (introduced in London in March 1907), from taximeter "automatic meter to record the distance and fare" (1898), from Fr. taximètre, from Ger. Taxameter (1890), coined from M.L. taxa "tax, charge." An earlier Eng. form was taxameter (1894), used in horse-drawn cabs. The verb is first recorded 1911, from earlier noun use as slang for "aircraft." Taxicab is also first attested 1907. Taxi dancer "woman whose services may be hired at a dance hall" is recorded from 1930. Taxi squad in U.S. football is 1966, from a former Cleveland Browns owner who gave his reserves jobs with his taxicab company to keep them paid and available ["Dictionary of American Slang"], but other explanations (short-term hire or shuttling back and forth from the main team) seem possible.

taxidermy --- 1820, from Gk. taxis "arrangement," from tassein "arrange" (see tactics) + derma "skin."

taxonomy --- 1828, from Fr. taxonomie (1813), introduced by Linnæus and coined irregularly from Gk. taxis "arrangement" (see taxidermy) + -nomia "method," from -nomos "managing," from nemein "manage" (see numismatics).

Tay-Sachs --- fatal inherited disorder, 1907, named in Ger. (1901) by H. Higier from names of British ophthalmologist Warren Tay (1843-1927) and U.S. physician and neurologist Warren Sachs (1858-1944) who described it in 1881 and 1887 respectively.

T-bone --- type of steak, 1916, so called from the T-shaped bone that runs through it. The verb meaning "to strike (another car, bus, etc.) from the side" is attested from 1980s.

tchotchke --- tinket, gewgaw, also (transf.) "pretty girl," 1964, Amer.Eng., from Yiddish, from a Slavic source (cf. Rus. tsatska).

Te Deum --- 1131, from L.L. Te Deum laudamus "Thee God we praise," first words of the ancient Latin hymn.

tea --- 1655, earlier chaa (1598, from Port. cha), from Malay teh and directly from Chinese (Amoy dialect) t'e, in Mandarin ch'a. The distribution of the different forms of the word reflects the spread of use of the beverage. The modern Eng. form, along with Fr. the, Sp. te, Ger. Tee, etc., derive via Du. thee from the Amoy form, reflecting the role of the Dutch as the chief importers of the leaves (through the Dutch East India Company, from 1610). First known in Paris 1635, the practice of drinking tea was first introduced to England 1644. The Port. word (attested from 1559) came via Macao; and Rus. chai, Pers. cha, Gk. tsai, Arabic shay and Turk. çay all came overland from the Mandarin form. Meaning "afternoon meal at which tea is served" is from 1738. Slang meaning "marijuana" (which sometimes was brewed in hot water) is attested from 1935, felt as obsolete by late 1960s. Tea bag first recorded 1940; tea ball is from 1895.

tea party --- 1778, from tea + party. The Boston tea party apparently not so called before 1864.

tea-berry --- American wintergreen, 1818, from tea + berry, so called because the dried berries were used as a substitute for tea.

teach --- O.E. tæcan (past tense and pp. tæhte) "to show, point out," also "to give instruction," from P.Gmc. *taikijanan (cf. O.H.G. zihan, Ger. zeihen "to accuse," Goth. ga-teihan "to announce"), from PIE *deik- "to show, point out" (see diction). Related to O.E. tacen, tacn "sign, mark" (see token). O.E. tæcan had more usually a sense of "show, declare, warn, persuade" (cf. Ger. zeigen "to show," from the same root); while the O.E. word for "to teach, instruct, guide" was more commonly læran, source of modern learn and lore. Teacher "one who teaches" emerged c.1300; it was used earlier in a sense of "index finger" (c.1290).

teak --- type of East Indian tree, 1698, from Port. teca, from Malayam tekka, corresponding to Tamil tekku, Telegu teku, Kanarese tegu.

teal --- 1314, "small freshwater duck," probably from an unrecorded O.E. word cognate with M.Du. teling "teal," M.L.G. telink, from W.Gmc. *taili. As the name of a shade of dark greenish-blue like the color patterns on the fowl's head and wings, it is attested from 1923.

team (n.) --- O.E. team "set of draft animals yoked together," from P.Gmc. *taumaz (cf. O.N. taumr, O.Fris. tam, Du. toom, O.H.G. zoum, Ger. Zaum "bridle"), probably lit. "that which draws," from *taugmaz "action of drawing," from series *taukh-, *tukh-, *tug-, represented by O.E. togian "to pull, drag" (see tow), from PIE *deuk- "pull" (related to L. ducere "to lead;" see duke). Applied to people in O.E., especially "group of people acting together to bring suit." Team spirit is recorded from 1928. Teamwork is recorded from 1828 in the lit. sense, 1909 in the extended sense.

team (v.) --- 1552, "to harness beasts in a team," from team (n.). The meaning "to come together as a team" (usually with up) is attested from 1932.

teamster --- person who drives a team of horses (especially in hauling freight), 1777, from team. Transf. to motor truck drivers by 1907.

tear (n.) --- water from the eye, O.E. tear, from earlier teahor, tæhher, from P.Gmc. *takh-, *tagr- (cf. O.N., O.Fris. tar, O.H.G. zahar, Ger. Zähre, Goth. tagr "tear"), from PIE *dakru-/*draku- (cf. L. lacrima, Old L. dacrima, Ir. der, Welsh deigr, Gk. dakryma). The O.E. verb tæherian did not survive into M.E.; the modern verb is attested from c.1650, mainly in Amer.Eng. Tear gas first recorded 1917; tear-jerker is attested from 1921 (first in ref. to writing of James Whitcomb Riley), on model of soda jerker.

tear (v.) --- pull apart, O.E. teran (class IV strong verb; past tense tær, pp. toren), from P.Gmc. *teran (cf. O.S. terian, M.Du. teren "to consume," O.H.G. zeran "to destroy," Ger. zehren, Goth. ga-tairan "to tear, destroy"), from PIE *der- "tear" (cf. Skt. drnati "cleaves, bursts," Gk. derein "to flay," Arm. terem "I flay," O.C.S. dera "to burst asunder," Bret. darn "piece"). The O.E. past tense survived long enough to get into Bible translations as tare before giving place 17c. to tore, which is from the old pp. toren. Sense of "to pull by force" (away from some situation or attachment) is attested from 1297. The noun meaning "act of tearing" is attested from 1666. To be torn between two things (desires, loyalties, etc.) is from 1871.

tea-rose --- 1850, from tea + rose, so called because it has a scent supposed to resemble tea.

tease --- O.E. tæsan "pluck, pull apart" (fibers of wool, flax, etc.), from W.Gmc. *taisijanan (cf. Dan. tæse, M.Du. tesen, Du. tezen "to draw, pull, scratch," O.H.G. zeisan "to tease, pick wool"). The original sense is of running thorns through wool or flax to separate, shred, or card the fibers. The figurative sense of "vex, worry, annoy" emerged 1619. For similar sense development, see heckle. Hairdressing sense is recorded from 1957. Noun meaning "one who teases" is first recorded 1852; specifically as short for cock-teaser it was in use by 1976. Teaser "short sample, introductory advertisement" is attested from 1934.

teasel --- O.E. tæsel "large thistle used in teasing cloth," from P.Gmc. *taisilo (cf. O.H.G. zeisala), from root of O.E. tæsan "to pluck" (see tease).

teat --- c.1250, from O.Fr. tete "teat" (12c.), from P.Gmc. *titta (source of O.E. titt, see tit).

technical --- 1617, "skilled in a particular art or subject," formed in Eng. from Gk. tekhnikos "of art," from tekhne "art, skill, craft" (see techno-). The sense narrowed to "having to do with the mechanical arts" (1727). Technicality is from 1814. Basketball technical foul (one which does not involve contact between opponents) is recorded from 1934. Boxing technical knock-out (one in which the loser is not knocked out) is recorded from 1921; abbreviation TKO is from 1940s.

technician --- 1833, "person expert in the technicalities of some question," from technic "technical" (1612), from Gk. tekhnikos (see techno-). Meaning "person skilled in mechanical arts" is recorded from 1939.

technicolor --- 1946, transferred from Technicolor, trademark (reg. 1917 U.S.), from technical + color.

technique --- 1817, from Fr. technique "formal practical details in artistic expression," noun use of adj. technique "of art, technical," from Gk. tekhnikos (see techno-).

techno- --- from Gk. tekhno-, combining form of tekhne "art, skill, craft, method, system," probably from PIE base *tek- "shape, make" (cf. Skt. taksan "carpenter," L. textere "to weave;" see texture). Technophile is attested from 1968; technophobe from 1965.

technocracy --- 1919, coined by W.H. Smyth in "Industrial Management" as a name for a new system of government by technical experts, from techno- + Gk. kratia "rule of" (see -cracy).

technology --- 1615, "discourse or treatise on an art or the arts," from Gk. tekhnologia "systematic treatment of an art, craft, or technique," originally referring to grammar, from tekhno- (see techno-) + -logia. The meaning "science of the mechanical and industrial arts" is first recorded 1859. High technology attested from 1964; short form high-tech is from 1972. Tech as a short form of Technical College (Institute, etc.) is Amer.Eng., attested from 1906.

tectonic --- 1656, "of or relating to building," from L.L. tectonicus, from Gk. tektonikos "pertaining to building," from tekton (gen. tektonos) "builder, carpenter," from PIE base *tek- "to make" (see texture). The geological sense is recorded from 1894. Tectonics in the geological sense is first attested 1899; earlier it meant "building or constructive arts in general" (1850).

Teddy --- pet form of masc. proper names Edward, Edmund, and Theodore; meaning "women's undergarment" (with lower-case t-) is recorded from 1924, of unknown origin, perhaps from some fancied resemblance to a teddy bear (q.v.), a theory that dates to 1929. In British slang phrase teddy boy (1954) it is short for Edward, from the preference of such youths for Edwardian styles (1901-10). Teddies (probably from Teddy Roosevelt) was one of the names given to U.S. troops in France in 1917.

teddy bear --- 1906, named for U.S. president Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, a noted big-game hunter, whose conservationist fervor inspired a comic illustrated poem in the "New York Times" of Jan. 7, 1906, about two bears named Teddy, whose names were transferred to two bears presented to the Bronx Zoo that year. The name was picked up by toy dealers in 1907 for a line of "Roosevelt bears" imported from Germany. Meaning "big, lovable person" first attested 1957, from the song popularized by Elvis Presley.

tedesco --- Teutonic influence in the arts, 1814, from It., lit. "German," from M.L. theodiscus (see Dutch).

tedious --- 1412, from O.Fr. tedieus, from L.L. tædiosus "wearisome, irksome, tedious," from L. tædium (see tedium).

tedium --- 1662, from L. tædium "weariness, disgust," related to tædet "it is wearisome," and to tædere "to weary." Possible cognates are O.C.S. tezo, Lith. tingiu "to be dull, be listless."

tee --- in golf, 1721, back-formation from teaz (1673), taken as a plural; a Scottish word of uncertain origin. The original form was a little heap of sand. The verb meaning "place a ball on a golf tee" is recorded from 1673; fig. sense of "to make ready" (usually with up) is recorded from 1938. Teed off in the fig. sense of "angry, annoyed" is first recorded 1953, probably as a euphemism for p(iss)ed off.

tee-hee --- imitative of derisive laughter at least since Chaucer (cf. "The Miller's Tale," c.1386).

teem (1) --- abound, swarm, O.E. teman (Mercian), tieman (W.Saxon) "give birth to, produce," from P.Gmc. *taumijanan, from PIE *deuk- "to lead" (see duke). Related to team in its now-obsolete O.E. sense of "family, brood of young animals." The meaning "be fertile, abound, swarm" is first recorded 1593; teeming in this sense is from 1715.

teem (2) --- to flow copiously, c.1300, from O.N. toema "to empty," from tomr "empty," cognate with O.E. tom "empty." The original notion is of "to empty a vessel," thus "to pour out."

-teen --- combining form meaning "ten more than," from O.E. -tene, -tiene, from P.Gmc. *tekhuniz (cf. O.S. -tein, Du. -tien, O.H.G. -zehan, Ger. -zehn, Goth. -taihun), an inflected form of the root of ten; cognate with L. -decim (cf. It. -dici, Sp. -ce, Fr. -ze). The combining form of ordinal numbers, -teenth, developed from O.E. -teoða, -teoðe (W.Saxon), teogoða (Anglian) "tenth."

teenage --- 1921, formed from -teen as a separate word + age; derived noun teenager is from 1941 (the earlier word for this was teener, attested in Anmer.Eng. from 1894). Teen-aged (adj.) is from 1952; shortened form teen is from 1951 (though this had been used as a noun to mean "teen-aged person" in 1818). Teeny-bopper is recorded from 1966, from teen but also felt as infl. by teeny. For second element, see bop.

teens --- 1673 (plural), formed from -teen, taken as a separate word.

teeny --- 1825, alteration of tiny. Alternate form teensy is attested from 1899.

teeter --- 1843, "to seesaw," alteration of M.E. titter "move unsteadily," probably from O.N. titra "to shake, shiver, totter," related to Ger. zittern "to tremble." Noun teeter-totter "see-saw" is attested from 1905.

teethe --- c.1410, probably from an unrecorded O.E. verb *teþan, from toþ (see tooth). Teething is attested from 1732.

teetotal --- pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink, 1834, possibly formed from total with a reduplication of the initial T- for emphasis (T-totally "totally," not in an abstinence sense, is recorded in Kentucky dialect from 1832 and is possibly older in Irish-Eng.). The use in temperance jargon was first noted Sept. 1833 in a speech advocating total abstinence (from beer as well as wine and liquor) by Richard "Dicky" Turner, a working-man from Preston, England. Also said to have been introduced in 1827 in a New York temperance society which recorded a T after the signature of those who had pledged total abstinence, but contemporary evidence for this is wanting, and Webster (1847) calls teetotaler "a cant word formed in England."