tilt

tilt · verb, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*del-
2. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*talt
3. Old English · inherited from*tyltan
4. Middle English · inherited fromtilte
5. English todaytilt

From Middle English tilte, from Old English *tyltan, *tieltan (“to be unsteady”), related to the adjective tealt (“unsteady”), from Proto-West Germanic *talt, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *del-, *dul- (“to shake, hesitate”), see also Dutch touteren (“to tremble”), North Frisian talt, tolt (“unstable, shaky”). Cognate with Icelandic tölt (“an ambling pace”). The nominal sense of "a joust" appears around 1510, presumably derived from the barrier which separated the combatants, which suggests connection with tilt "covering". The modern transitive meaning is from 1590; the intransitive use appears 1620. The sense of gaming frustration is said to originate with pinball.

tilt · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*teldą“tent”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*teld
3. Old English · inherited fromteld“tent”
4. Middle English · inherited fromtelte
5. English todaytilt

From Middle English telte, tield, teld, from Old English teld (“tent”), from Proto-West Germanic *teld, from Proto-Germanic *teldą (“tent”). Perhaps influenced by Middle Low German telt, or Danish telt. Cognates include German Zelt (“tent”), Old Norse tjald (“tent”) (whence also archaic Danish tjæld (“tent”)). More at teld.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1590 To slope or incline (something); to slant.
• 1620 To be at an angle.
• 1510 A jousting contest. (countable)
• 1450 A canvas covering for carts, boats, etc.