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Tan

( 359 )

Tau

Tann, m., see the following word.

Tanne, f., ‘fir tree,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tanne, f., OHG. tanna, signifies ‘fir tree, oak,’ hence the primary idea of the word is usually ‘forest tree’ (see Eiche, Buche). This is supported by ModHG. Tann, m., from MidHG. tan (nn), m. and n., ‘forest’' (OHG. tan-ęsil, ‘wild ass’), which seems to be based on a collective signification of Tanne. The early history of the HG. cognates (to which ODu. dęnnia, Du. den, ‘fir tree,’ is allied) is uncertain. Its connection with Gr. θάμνος, ‘thicket,’ is dubious.

Tante, f., ‘aunt,’ ModHG. only, formed from Fr. tante; for the genuine G. words preserved dialectically see Base and Muhme.

Tanz, m., ‘dance, ball,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tanz, m., to which MidHG. and ModHG. tanzen is allied. The word was first adopted in the 11th cent. In OHG. the verbs were salzôn (which, like AS. sealtian, was borrowed at an early period from Lat. saltâre), and the genuine Teut. tûmôn and leihhan (comp. Leich). The late appearance of MidHG. tanzen tends to show that it is a loan-word; it is based on the equiv. Romance cognates, Ital. danzare (Fr. danser, whence E. to dance, and Du. dansen). It is true that, considering the late period at which it was borrowed, the HG. t compared to Ital. d is abnormal. The Romance cognates are themselves of Teut. origin, which has been sought in OHG. dansôn, ‘to draw’ (allied to Goth. þinsan; see gedunsen).

tapfer, adj., ‘brave, variant, bold,’ from MidHG. tapfer (dapfer, tapfel), ‘firm, pressed, full, weighty, important’ (only in late MidHG. brave), OHG. tapfar, ‘heavy, weighty, important’; comp. Du. dapper, ‘brave, much,’ E. dapper. The connection in meaning with OSlov. doblĭ, ‘strong, able,’ debelŭ, ‘stout,’ and dobrŭ, ‘beautiful, good,’ is quite clear, but it is difficult to show how it is related to the corresponding OIc. dapr, ‘sad’; note, however, ModHG. dreist, ‘bold, audacious,’ OHG. drîsti, OLG. thrîsti, compared with Lat. trîstis.

Tappe, f. (in Swab. and Alem. Dopen, m.), ‘claw, paw,’ from the equiv. MidHG. *tā̆ppe (only tâpe is recorded), f.; origin and early history obscure. To this is allied ModHG. täppisch, adj., ‘awkward, clumsy,’ since MidHG. tappe (tâpe) occurs also as ‘uncouth, loutish person’; hence also ModHG. tappen, vb., ‘to flounder along,

grope one's way,’ lit. ‘to behave awkwardly.

Tarnkappe, f., ‘magic cap,’ see Kappe; the first component is OTeut. darni, ‘secret,’ OHG. tarni, AS. dyrne. To this MidE. dâren, ‘to conceal oneself,’ is allied.

Tasche, f., ‘pocket, pouch, wallet,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tasche (tęsche), OHG. tasca, f. An obscure word, the relation of which to the equiv. Romance cognate Ital. tasca cannot be defined. The ‘origin of the word and the history of its further diffusion is unknown.

Tasse, f., ‘cup,’ ModHG. only, from Fr. tasse (comp. Ital. tazza, from Arab. tassah, ‘bowl’).

tasten, vb., ‘to touch, fumble, grope,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tasten, wk. vb. Borrowed about 1200 A.D. from the Romance cognate Ital. tastare (Fr. tâter), ‘to feel, fumble,’ which is based on a Lat. *taxitare (allied to late Lat. taxare, ‘to touch sharply’).

Tatze, f., ‘paw, claw,’ from MidHG. tatze, f., ‘hand, paw.’ The origin and history of this word, which cannot be traced farther back, are obscure.

Tau (1.), n. (unknown to Swab. and Bav.), ‘rope, cable,’ ModHG. only; properly a LG. word, based on OIc. taug, ‘cord, rope’ (whence E. tow, Du. touw). The latter is connected with the Teut. root tuh (tang), in ModHG. ziehen. From the LG. word Fr. touer, ‘to tow a ship,’ is derived. For the words borrowed by HG. from LG. see Strand, Boot, &c.

Tau (2.), m., ‘dew,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. tou (gen. touwes), n. (MidG. also, m.); corresponding to the equiv. OSax. dau, Du. dauw, AS. deáw, E. dew, OIc. dǫgg (Goth. *daggwa is wanting), whence E. (dial.) dag. Teut. dauwo-, from pre-Teut. dháwo-, is generally connected with the Sans. root dhā̆v, ‘to run, flow, stream.’

taub, adj., ‘deaf, torpid,’ from MidHG. and OHG. toup (b), ‘deaf, insensible, stupid, foolish, mad’; corresponding to Goth. daufs (b), ‘callous,’ AS. deáf, E. deaf, and the equiv. Du. doof. Since the meanings of the OHG. and MidHG. adj. border on those of OHG. and MidHG. tump (see dumm), the two words are certainly connected. The assumed relation (see dumm) to the Aryan root dhubh, ‘to be blunt, obtuse, deafened,’ preserved in Gr. τυφλός, ‘blind,’ leads further to toben and its cog-