tall English · revision 4711

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1385|origins=ang getæl}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɔːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English tal, probably [[inh|ang|ġetæl|t=swift, prompt, active]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Germanic *(ga)tala-, also the source of Old Saxon gital and Old High German gizal “quick” and Gothic untals “disobedient”, related to talzjan “to teach”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[tale]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Quick, prompt: about 1385 in Barnhart, in Chaucer's Complaint of Mars,^(Barnhart 1988) where Skeat read it as “obedient, docile”.^(Trench 1859) The OED's Old English quotations for “quick, ready” (about 1000) are doubtful.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins calls this a remarkable change of meaning.^(Cresswell 2021) In Middle English tall meant seemly or proper (about 1350), handsome (about 1450),^(OED 1989) brave and good at arms (about 1400),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and also large or big.^(Etymonline) The modern sense, of more than average height, appears in 1530, in Palsgrave, first of persons and by the 1540s of things;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests it grew out of the senses “brave” and “handsome”, and Trench and Skeat wondered whether it was a separate word.^(Etymonline)^(Trench 1859) Having a stated height is from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) ''Tall'' for exaggerated, as in a ''tall tale'', is American colloquial by 1846,^(Etymonline) and ''tall, dark and handsome'' is by 1841.^(Etymonline) ''Stand tall'' first meant to walk with one's head high, then to be proud or brave.^(Barnhart 1988) The ''tall poppy'', a prominent person who is resented, is Australian from the mid 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – seemly, proper.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1385 – quick, prompt.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – brave, valiant.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1450 – handsome.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – high of stature.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – of things, high.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – of a stated height.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1846 – exaggerated, as in ''tall tale''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of more than average [[height]], especially of a [[person]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having a stated height: ''six feet tall''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Hard to believe; exaggerated: ''a tall story''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Difficult to do: ''a tall order''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Proudly and confidently: ''stand tall''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tallish]]

+ * [[tallness]]

+ * [[tall drink]]

+ * [[tall fescue]]

+ * [[tall oil]]

+ * [[tall one]]

+ * [[tall ship]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tale]]

+ * [[tallboy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}