Etymologically
Log in

tier

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈtaɪ.ə/ (UK); /ˈtaɪ.ɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French tire (“rank, sequence, order”), from Old French tire,[2][3][4][5] probably from tirer (“to draw, draw out”) (see tirade),[3][2][6] of unknown origin.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A row or rank, especially one of several one above another: probably before 1450 in Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline, the late 15th century in SOED;[2][3][7] 1569 in the OED and MWU.[8][5]

Semantic evolution

A row of guns on a warship is from 1573,[8] and figuratively a rank, grade or stratum from 1590.[8] In the United States a range of contiguous townships, counties or states is from 1693.[8] A rank of organ pipes is from 1828–32, and one of several overlapping flounces on a dress from 1934.[8] The verb, to arrange in tiers, is from 1888–89.[2][3]

Timeline

  • mid-15th century – a row, rank.[3]
  • 1573 – a row of guns.[8]
  • 1590 – a grade, stratum.[8]
  • 1693 – a range of counties (US).[8]
  • 1888 – to arrange in tiers (verb).[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A row or level of a structure, especially one of several placed one above another.
  2. A level or grade within an organization or system: a two-tier system.

Verb

  1. To arrange in tiers.

Word family

  • flytier
  • two-tier
  • tirade
  • attire
  • retire

Usage notes

A separate tier, pronounced to rhyme with buyer, is one who ties (from tie and -er), recorded from Middle English.[7][5]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press