targe

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*derǵʰ-“fenced lot”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*targǭ“edge”
3. Old Norse · derived fromtarga“round shield”
4. Old English · inherited fromtarga
5. Frankish · derived from*targā“buckler”
6. Old French · derived fromtarge
7. Middle English · inherited fromtarge
8. English todaytarge

From Middle English targe, either: * from Old French targe, from Frankish *targā (“buckler”); or * from Old English targa (masculine) and targe (feminine); both ultimately from Old Norse targa (“round shield”) from Proto-Germanic *targǭ (“edge”), from Proto-Indo-European *derǵʰ- (“fenced lot”). Akin to Old High German zarga (“side wall, rim”) (German Zarge (“border, frame”)). However, the soft -g- seems to indicate a French origin.

Words from the same roots