Etymograph

English

heeltap

From heel + tap.

A compound of heel + tap

Proto-Indo-European *kenk- ‘to feel hunger’

…

Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz ‘heel (of the foot)’

Proto-West Germanic *hą̄hilō

Old English hēla ‘heel (of the foot)’

Middle English hele

English heel

Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- ‘to lose’

Proto-Germanic *tappô ‘a plug, tap’

Proto-West Germanic *tappō

Old English tæppa ‘tap, spigot’

Middle English tappe ‘hollow device for controlling the flow of…’

English tap

Today it means

noun A piece or wedge that raises the heel of a shoe.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / heeltap