tiger

tiger · noun¹

1. Ancient Greekτίγρις (tígris)
2. Latintigri
3. Anglo-Normantigre
4. Latintigris
5. Proto-West Germanic*tīgr
6. Old Englishtigras
7. Middle Englishtygre
8. English todaytiger

From Middle English tygre, in part from Old English tigras (pl.), in part from Anglo-Norman tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Ancient Greek τίγρις (tígris), from Iranian (compare Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬔𐬭𐬌 (tigri, “arrow”), 𐬙𐬌𐬖𐬭𐬀 (tiγra, “pointed”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to pierce, prick, be sharp”). Compare English stick.

tiger · noun²

From the mascot of Princeton (a tiger), which led to early cheerleaders calling out "Tiger" at the end of a cheer for the Princeton team.

Words from the same roots