English
Tory
Tory comes from Irish tóraí ‘pursuer’, from Proto-Celtic *to-wo-ret ‘running up to’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- ‘to run, roll’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreth₂-‘to run, roll’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*reteti‘to run’reconstructed
- Proto-Celtic, derivedc. 1300–800 BCE*to-wo-ret‘running up to’reconstructed
- Middle Irishc. 900–1200tóir
- Irishc. 1200–presentsame form‘pursuit’
- Irish, derivedc. 1200–presenttóraí‘pursuer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1886Tory
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreth₂-‘to run, roll’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*reteti‘to run’reconstructed
- Proto-Celtic, derivedc. 1300–800 BCE*to-wo-ret‘running up to’reconstructed
- Middle Irishc. 900–1200tóir
- Irishc. 1200–presentsame form‘pursuit’
- Irish, derivedc. 1200–presenttóraí‘pursuer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1886Tory
Earliest quotation: 1886, James Orchard Haliwell, The Nursery Rhymes of England: “Ho! Master Teague, what is your story? / I…”
first attested The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler, Earl of Ormond, to a Colonel O'Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways (as stated in the etymology)
The story
The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler, Earl of Ormond, to a Colonel O'Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- ‘to run, roll’
rotation, rash, rotate, rodeo, rotary, rota, rotund, rueda, 15 more
Today it means
noun A member or supporter of the Conservative Party, which evolved from Royalist politicians; historically associated with upholding the rights of the monarchy and the privileges of the established Church.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- / Tory