toy

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*dewk-“to pull, lead”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*teuhaną“to lead, bring, pull”
3. Proto-Germanic · derived from*teugą“stuff, matter, device, gear, lever”
4. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*tiugī̆
5. Old Dutch · derived from*tiug
6. Middle English · inherited fromtoye“amorous play, piece of fun or entertainment”
7. English todaytoy

Inherited from Middle English toye (“amorous play, piece of fun or entertainment”), probably from Middle Dutch toy, tuyg (“tools, apparatus, utensil, ornament”) as in Dutch speel-tuig (“plaything, toy”), from Old Dutch *tiug, from Proto-West Germanic *tiugī̆, *teug, from Proto-Germanic *teugą (“stuff, matter, device, gear, lever”, literally “that which is drawn or pulled”), from Proto-Germanic *teuhaną (“to lead, bring, pull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead”). Cognate with Dutch tuig (“thing”), German Zeug (“stuff”), Danish tøj (“stuff”), Icelandic tygi, Norwegian tøy (“equipment, riggings, stuff”), Swedish tyg (“cloth, textile, fabric”). Related to tug, tow, taw, tew.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child.
• from 16th c. A thing of little importance or value; a trifle.
• 16th–17th c. A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal.
• 16th–18th c. Love play, amorous dalliance; fondling.
• 16th–17th c. A vague fancy, a ridiculous idea or notion; a whim.