Middle English tigre, "large, beautifully striped carnivorous cat living in distant places or mentioned by ancient naturalists," from Old English tigras (plural), also in part from Old French tigre "tiger" (mid-12c.), both from Latin tigris "tiger," from Greek tigris, which is possibly from an Iranian source akin to Old Persian tigra- "sharp, pointed," Avestan tighri- "arrow," in reference to its springing on its prey, "but no application of either word, or any derivative, to the tiger is known in Zend." [OED, 1989].
In reference to tiger-like persons from c. 1500. The meaning "shriek or howl at the end of a cheer" is recorded from 1845, American English, and is variously explained. For adjectives tigerish, tiger-like, tigerly (rare), tigerous (rare, obsolete), tigery have been tried. Tigerine (1650s) is especially in reference to colors.
Tiger's-eye "yellowish-brown quartz as an ornamental stone" is so called by 1886. The tiger-lily (1824) is so called for its orange and black flowers; the tiger beetle (1826) for its aggressive predation.
"little book on a particular topic, short treatise" late Old English tracte, probably a shortened form of Latin tractatus "a handling, treatise, treatment," from tractare "to handle" (see treat (v.)).
Also in liturgy, an anthem consisting of verses of Scripture used at certain occasions. In later use, "a short pamphlet" (by 1806). Related: Tractarian.
mid-12c., tresor, tresour, "money or jewels in store, wealth accumulated, spoils hoarded," from Old French tresor "treasury, hoard, treasure" (11c., Modern French trésor), from Gallo-Roman *tresaurus, alteration of Latin thesaurus "treasury, treasure" (source also of Spanish tesoro, Italian tesoro), from Greek thēsauros "store, treasure, treasure house." This is related to tithenai "to put, to place," said to be from a reduplicated form of the PIE root *dhe- "to set, put," hence "lay down, make, create, etc."
Old English poets used goldhord, maðm for this idea. In Middle English the word sometimes became thresur, etc., in awkward imitation of the classical forms, as also in Old French; the modern spelling in English was established from 16c.
The figurative sense of "anything valued" is by c. 1200, originally in spiritual senses; by c. 1300 as "person held dear." The children's treasure hunt is attested by 1913 (treasure-hunter for one who seeks hidden gold is by 1858). For treasure trove, see trove.
mid-12c., tunice, "ancient garment like a shirt or short gown, often worn as an undergarment," from Old French tunique (12c.) or directly from Latin tunica "undergarment worn by either sex" (source of Spanish tunica, Italian tonica, Old High German tunihha), probably from a Semitic source (compare Hebrew kuttoneth "coat," Aramaic kittuna). Compare chitin, from a Greek name for a similar garment, also probably from a Semitic source.
The borrowing from Old French replaced Old English tunece, directly from Latin. In antiquity worn by either sex. In reference to modern costume from 1660s, extended as a general term to all garments worn depending from the neck; especially as a women's garment from mid-18c. A fine, thin, or delicate example is a tunicle.
mid-12c., from Old Norse ves heill "be healthy," a salutation, from ves, imperative of vesa "to be" (see was) + heill "healthy," from Proto-Germanic *haila- (see health). Use as a drinking phrase appears to have arisen among Danes in England and spread to native inhabitants.
A similar formation appears in Old English wes þu hal, but this is not recorded as a drinking salutation. Sense extended c. 1300 to "liquor in which healths were drunk," especially spiced ale used in Christmas Eve celebrations. Meaning "a carousal, reveling" first attested c. 1600. Wassailing "custom of going caroling house to house at Christmas time" is recorded from 1742.
