Etymology

yo-yo

Today it means: A toy consisting of a spheroidal or cylindrical spindle having a circular groove in which string is wound; it is used by holding the string in the fingers and reeling the spindle up and down by movements of the wrist. Full definition →

Ilocano yóyo ← Philippine
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The story

  1. Philippine · derived from
  2. Ilocano · borrowed fromyóyo
  3. English todayyo-yo

Genericized trademark. Most likely from Ilocano yóyo, or another Philippine cognate.

Words from the same roots

Ilocanoyóyo all →

yoyo

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.