till English · revision 2939

+ English has three main words spelled ''till'': the preposition and conjunction “until”, the verb “to cultivate (land)”, and the noun “money drawer”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɪl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|until}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited, borrowing|attested=before 800|origins=gem-pro *tilą}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The preposition is [[inh|enm|til]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|til|t=to]] in Northumbrian Old English,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) reinforced by [[non|til|t=to, until]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*tilą]],^(Etymonline) probably the accusative of a lost noun meaning “aim, goal”, preserved in Icelandic tili “scope” and seen in German Ziel “goal”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to the verb [[till#2]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The conjunction is from the preposition, already in Old English.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The preposition “to”, in Northumbrian Old English: before 800.^(Barnhart 1988) The conjunction “until” is in the ''Peterborough Chronicle'' in 1137.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Til is a common preposition in the Scandinavian languages, where it does the work of English [[to]], and in English its use spread from the north.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “Up to the time of” is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) The sense “to” survives only in Scots and northern English.^(Hoad 1986)^(MW Collegiate) In English it was largely superseded by the compound [[until]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – preposition, to.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1137 – conjunction, until.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – in the ''Ormulum''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 14th century – up to the time of.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # [[until|alt=Until]]; up to the time of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly Scottish)'' To.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Until; up to the time that.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ {{homograph|2|cultivate}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 897|origins=gem-pro *tilōjaną}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|tilen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|tilian|t=to strive after, work at, tend]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*tilōjaną]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from the noun behind [[till#1]], meaning “aim, goal”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is cognate with Old Frisian tilia “to get, cultivate”, Dutch telen “to breed, cultivate” and German zielen “to aim, strive”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Old English til “good, suitable” is related.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To strive, exert oneself, labour: about 897.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old English verb meant “to strive after, aim at”, then “to work at, get by labour”, and in late Old English “to cultivate”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Cultivating land is recorded in 1137, in the ''Peterborough Chronicle'',^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 13th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and “to plough” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Etymonline compares Old Norse yrkja “to work; to cultivate” and Old Church Slavonic dělati “to work, cultivate”.^(Etymonline) In Somerset, Devon and Cornwall dialect ''till'' meant “to sow, plant”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 897 – to strive, labour.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1137 – to cultivate land.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to plough; figurative use.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To prepare land for crops by [[plough|alt=ploughing]] and [[harrow|alt=harrowing]]; to [[cultivate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tillable]]

+ * [[tillage]]

+ * [[tiller]]

+

+ {{homograph|3|money drawer}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1452|origins=non þilja}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The drawer is of obscure origin.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) It is perhaps [[bor|xno|tylle|t=compartment]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) Old French tille “compartment or shelter on a ship”, which is probably from [[non|þilja|t=plank, floorboard]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[gem-pro|*þeljōn]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Another theory derives it from Middle English tillen “to draw”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small box, casket or compartment inside a larger chest: 1452,^(OED 1989) the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A drawer or box for money under a shop counter is from 1698,^(OED 1989) the 1690s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) In Northamptonshire dialect ''till'' meant “money”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1452 – a box or compartment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1698 – a shop's money drawer.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A drawer or tray for money in a shop or bank; a [[cash register]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[until]]

+ * [[unto]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A fourth ''till'', of unknown origin, is a stiff clay, especially the boulder clay of glaciers, recorded from 1765.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)^(MW Collegiate) ''Till'' is not a shortening of ''until'': it is the older word, and ''until'' is formed from it.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}