English
puttage
From put + -age, perhaps because the questions posed are often introduced with the expression “I put it to you that …”.
Formed from put + -age
Proto-Germanic *putōną ‘to stick’
Proto-West Germanic *putōn ‘to stick’
Old English putian
Middle English putten ‘to put’
English put
The story
From put + -age, perhaps because the questions posed are often introduced with the expression “I put it to you that …”.
Today it means
noun The putting of questions to a witness during cross-examination in accordance with the Rule in Browne v Dunn, specifically, questions that present a version of events that contradicts the witness's own testimony in order to elicit denials or explanations.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / puttage