English
treble
Treble comes from Old French treble, from Latin triplus ‘threefold, triple’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tri-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tri-‘three, threefold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCEsame form‘three, tri-’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*triplos‘threefold, triple’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtriplus‘threefold, triple’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400treble
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tri-‘three, threefold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCEsame form‘three, tri-’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*triplos‘threefold, triple’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtriplus‘threefold, triple’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400treble
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611same form
Earliest quotation: 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest: “I am more ſerious then my cuſtome; you Muſt…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *tri- ‘three, threefold’
through Proto-Italic *tri- ‘three, tri-’
through Latin triplus ‘threefold, triple’
Today it means
adj Pertaining to the highest singing voice or part in harmonized music.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *tri- / treble