English
Talon
Talon comes from Old French talon ‘heel’, from Latin talus ‘the ankle or anklebone (of animals), talus’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *tākslos.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tākslosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtalus‘the ankle or anklebone (of animals), talus’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*talonisreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400talon‘heel’
- Englishearliest quotation 2010Talon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tākslosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtalus‘the ankle or anklebone (of animals), talus’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*talonisreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400talon‘heel’
- Englishearliest quotation 2010Talon
Earliest quotation: 2010, David Farland, The Wyrmling Horde: Book 7 of the Runelords: “'Very well, I shall call you Talon from now…”
The story
The surname derives from Old French talon (‘heel’) as a nickname for a deformity, or for a swift runner; also diminutive of Talbot and Talleyrand. The modern given name is associated with English talon.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- ‘to touch’
contact, taste, integrity, integrate, contingent, tangible, attain, tame, taxis, contiguous, tangent, tactile, tact, taxonomy, contagion, contaminate, tama, ataxia, thwack, 31 more
through Latin talus ‘the ankle or anklebone (of animals), talus’
Today it means
name A surname transferred from the nickname.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *tākslos / Talon