English
toga
Toga comes from Latin toga, from tegō ‘to clothe’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- ‘to cover with a roof’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)teg-‘to cover with a roof’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tegō‘to cover’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtegō‘to clothe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtoga
- Englishearliest quotation 1899same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)teg-‘to cover with a roof’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tegō‘to cover’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtegō‘to clothe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtoga
- Englishearliest quotation 1899same form
Earliest quotation: 1899, Joseph Conrad, The Heart of Darkness: “Or think of a decent young citizen in a…”
The story
The Philippine (and Indonesian) senses are due to the resemblance of the white ceremonial gowns worn by graduates of institutions to the loose outer garment worn by the citizens of Ancient Rome.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- ‘to cover with a roof’
tile, thug, sauna, thatch, staccato, toque, 27 more
through Latin tegō ‘to clothe’
detective, detection, detect, protégé, 10 more
through Latin toga
Today it means
noun A loose outer garment worn by the citizens of Ancient Rome.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- / toga