tap

tap · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*tappōną
2. Old English · inherited fromtæppa
3. Old English · inherited fromtæppian“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”
4. Middle English · inherited fromtappen“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”
5. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*deh₂p-“to lose; to sacrifice”
6. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*tappô“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”
7. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*tappō
8. Old English · inherited fromtæppa
9. Middle English · inherited fromtappe“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”
10. English todaytap

The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa. The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either: * from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or * from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above). Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.2.

tap · verb, noun²

1. Old French · derived fromtape“light slap or touch, pat”
2. Middle English · inherited fromtappen
3. Middle English · inherited fromtap
4. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*tabōną“to grope, to grapple, to claw”
5. Middle Low German · derived fromtappen
6. Frankish · derived from*tappōn
7. Old French · derived fromtapper
8. Middle English · inherited fromtappen
9. English todaytap

The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either: * imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or * from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”), or from Proto-Germanic *tabōną (“to grope, to grapple, to claw”), maybe via a Old Norse *tapa (“to strike”), as seen in the derivative tapsa (“to tap”) Doublet of dab and tave. Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them. The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either: * from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or * from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above). Cognates * German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”) * Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”)

tap · noun³

1. Sanskrit · derived fromताप“fever; heat; pain, torment”
2. English todaytap

From Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “fever; heat; pain, torment”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 20th c. A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications.
• from 19th c. To connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; also, to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication).
• from early 13th c. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
• from early 13th c. Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone).
• from early 13th c. To have sexual intercourse with (someone).
• from early 13th c. To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.
• from mid 20th c. To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position.