tailor (English)

Where does "tailor" come from?

The word 'tailor' traces its origins back to the Latin word 'tālea', meaning 'a cutting' or a thin piece of wood. It evolved into the Old French 'tailleor', referring to one who cuts cloth, before crossing into Middle English as 'taillour' and eventually becoming the modern English term for a professional clothing maker.

Full etymology tree

• tailor (English), 'A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.'
  • inherited taillour (Middle English), 'tailor'
    • borrowed taillour (Anglo-Norman)
      • inherited tailleor (Old French)
        • derived taillier (Old French), 'to cut'
          • derived tāliō (Latin), 'punishment equal to the injury sustained; retaliation'
            • derived tālea (Latin), 'A long or slender piece of wood or metal; rod, stick, stake, bar.'

Direct ancestors

• taillour (Middle English)
• taillour (Middle English)
• talio (Latin)
• talea (Latin)
• tailleur (English)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris